I am going back to school to get an elementary teaching certificate. I currently work in accounting and have a business degree but through years of volunteer work with Junior Achivement feel that teaching is my calling. I found a great accelerated program and looking forward to changing to a more rewarding career. I know male elementary teachers are rare and my advisor has told me I will have no problem getting a job if I come out of the program with the needed skills and great portfolio.
My question is to any male teachers out there or any female teachers out there who have worked with males, what are the biggest obstacles you see me facing when I do begin to teach? Are the female teachers accepting of a male? What is the work environment like in a female dominated setting? How do parents react when their child has a male teacher? Any and all answers, suggestions, opinions would be appreciated. I don't even know a male elementary teacher that I can ask personally.
One of my good friends is a male teacher, and everyone loved him. It also helped that he was a good teacher. He taught 3rd grade. Where I taught there were also 2 male teachers in grade 3 or 4, and they were popular as well. The truth is that a lot of children do not have a positive male role model. As for the female teachers, from what I have seen, they enjoy having a man around for a change, and he often gets treated that way.
I know we are lining up my son for the male K teacher at our local elementary school. I think the transition will be easier for him, since for the last 4 years he has been home with his dad. Good luck!
I have found that at all levels of education male teachers are greatly appreciated by the female teachers. I think that, unfortunately, in our society that many children don't have a positive male influence in their lives. A male teacher can offer this.
We had a male teacher for a couple of years who taught 2nd grade and the kids and parents loved him. Like Amanda said he was a good male role model for the kids esp the ones who didn't have a dad around. Unfortunately he left for another school. He was very popular w/ everyone.
Another friend of mine is a teacher and he loves it and is respected by the kids.
I have a male aide in my classroom, and the kids respond to him so well-- not only my students, but students in other classes we interact with. There is a different dynamic with a male teacher than with a female teacher, and it is great for the kids to have a mix. It also helps to have the range of perspectives when planning, in the classroom, or on the grade-level team, etc. You may find sometimes that people ask you to be the "tough guy" in a situation where there is a student causing trouble, especially in older elementary when the kids start getting bigger than some of the teachers.
We have only one male teacher at our school and we are soooo glad to have him. It helped that he told us right away that he was comfortable working with women. He gets kidded a lot in a friendly way and he responds in a much needed way. It is a breath of fresh air. Yes, he is an excellent teacher, though, and that is the most important thing. I think that the issue of gender can only enhance your status.
the males on our staff that work with the elementary students are greatly respected and liked by everyone in the school. Kudos! Our kids need more positive male role models!
I actually am a male first grade teacher, so let me say a few things.
First of all, the experience is great. When I moved to first grade I was worried that I would scare the kids (I'm big, have a loud voice, and look more like a construction worker than a teacher).
What I found was the opposite. I think it's because at that age, at home, Mom is the force to be rekoned with, Dad can still be easily "charmed" (or conned, depending on how you look at it). So a lot of young children actually see a male and think "pushover."
Conversely, I get a lot of very difficult kids in my classes because when the Kindergarten teachers meet to place the kids in their first grad classes the words "He needs to have a male teacher" come up a lot. Moreover, a lot of parents request me because they think I can give their kid the "discipline" he or she needs. little do they realize what a softy I really am. And many of those who do realize what a softy I am, want their kids in my class because they think I'm the only first grade teacher who will let their child live.
I think it is great to have male teachers in the primary grades. I work in a k-2 school and have 3 male teachers who teach specials (music, physical education, art). The children respect them and respond to them well. I am really good friends with them and have a great time when they come to my classroom to work with my children. Some pof my special education students really benefit from male teachers.
He taught 3rd grade. Where I taught there were also 2 male teachers in grade 3 or 4, and they were popular as well. The truth is that a lot of children do not have a positive male role model. As for the female teachers, from what I have seen, they enjoy having a man around for a change, and he often gets treated that way.
