A Scary Job

Kindergarten teacher is pretty scary to me, and I've taught first! I don't think I could do it. Kudos to all of you kinder teachers!
 
That's really funny, but I always hear that people would never teach kindergarten, even other primary teachers. :/
 
I've taught first and would happily go back! But kindergarten?? No thank you! I'd do it and probably enjoy it, but it's not my first choice.
 
I spend an hour a day with my K students and it is the most exhausting part of my day! My para and I say all the time that we don't know how people spend all day with 4-5 year olds. It's like you have to be a whole different level of "on" when teaching the K students...the difference between K and first is HUGE! I think our K teachers also have more to do after school because you simply can't get anything done during the school day. I mean, they literally can't even turn around to put something on their desk and take their eyes off of the kids for a split second.
 
waterfall said:
I think our K teachers also have more to do after school because you simply can't get anything done during the school day. I mean, they literally can't even turn around to put something on their desk and take their eyes off of the kids for a split second.
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Very true. There is a quote from the movie Kindergarten Cop where she says "Kindergarten is like the ocean, you don't want to turn your back on it"- :p
 
I love teaching Kindergarten, but I do find that I need a break from it. I taught K for 8 years total, 4 years at a time. Now, I find being a classroom teacher 'scary' just give me the kids in small groups.
 
No way I'd ever teach kindergarten. Nope, nope, nope. Teaching third grade already feels like herding chipmunks. Can't imagine what kindergarten must be like.
 
gr3teacher said:
No way I'd ever teach kindergarten. Nope, nope, nope. Teaching third grade already feels like herding chipmunks. Can't imagine what kindergarten must be like.
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I affectionately refer to my students as kittens from time to time because it feels like trying to herd cats whenever we have to leave the classroom.

If you told me a few years ago that I was going to be a kindergarten teacher I would have laughed at you and called you crazy. But I fell in love with the grade as a student teacher and was thrilled to be offered the job. Sure, I'm exhausted most evenings and spend far too much time after school getting work done but watching them progress and grow is worth it (although I have 3 who are really testing me). I have a student who started the year off not knowing any letter sounds and just writing in squiggles who can now read most small 3-5 letter words and can use the sounds to work out a close spelling to write a sentence.
 
MissyB said:
I have a student who started the year off not knowing any letter sounds and just writing in squiggles who can now read most small 3-5 letter words and can use the sounds to work out a close spelling to write a sentence.
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It makes it all worth it doesn't it!? We have a new Kinder teacher this year who moved down from an upper primary grade and she gets very frustrated. I always tell her just wait-when those skills start to kick in and all of sudden they reading and writing, it makes it all worth it! ;)
 
I guess whoever wrote this list didn't know what a Special Ed teacher does. They listed temper tantrums for the Kindergarten teacher but I guess they don't know that when some special ed students have a tantrum they could exhibit violent behaviors and might throw chairs, hit the teacher, or worse. Sorry, I think that's scarier than germs. Just another clueless bunch of people writing a story.
 
TeacherNY said:
I guess whoever wrote this list didn't know what a Special Ed teacher does. They listed temper tantrums for the Kindergarten teacher but I guess they don't know that when some special ed students have a tantrum they could exhibit violent behaviors and might throw chairs, hit the teacher, or worse. Sorry, I think that's scarier than germs. Just another clueless bunch of people writing a story.
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I've seen some of that violent behavior in gen ed kids.

If I would have responded to the poll, I would have said middle schoolers.

It's a matter of perspective.
 
KinderCowgirl said:
It makes it all worth it doesn't it!? We have a new Kinder teacher this year who moved down from an upper primary grade and she gets very frustrated. I always tell her just wait-when those skills start to kick in and all of sudden they reading and writing, it makes it all worth it! ;)
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It definitely makes it worth it. It's the little steps that we must pay attention to and remember or we run the risk of going crazy/getting worn out.
 
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