Of course I enjoy teaching all children, but I loved second grade! They are just so imaginative and full of life. Just out of curiosity, from your experience, what is your preferred grade level to teach and why?
I've got two - 5th grade & 8th grade. Both are at the end of their years in a school (where I teach anyway). Which means they can do more than their peers, their curriculum in more indepth, but they are less sassy and still sweeter than the those in the school above .
Kindergarten!!! I LOVE kindergarten!! Can't help it!! I started volunteering in my baby sister's kinder room when I was 14--kept going in to help the same teacher year after year. I was a "sub Option II" teacher in K, then student taught in that same room. They are too darn cute, I love how you can see progress daily, and they crack me up with their stories and their "questions that are really comments" during a lesson. But ask me after next year (my first year full time teaching and with 2nd) maybe I will have a new favorite!
I love teaching first grade. It is remarkable to see the changes the students make throughout the year. Their minds are little sponges and I like filling them up with more knowledge.
Fabulous Fifth I like the challenge of preparing them for, middle school, the next phase in their lives.
I've found a home in 5th! I love the curriculum and all the cool projects you can do with them. I love their independence, their sense of fun, their enthusiasm, their interest in the world around them, and the amazing discussions you can have with them. Most of all I love how they still think their teacher knows something! What I don't like are the mountains of correcting and the late work; still it is a very good trade off.
I student taught in 3rd and really liked it. I loop from first to second and like both. But...my all time fave is second!! They love learning and they are more independent than first. Although with first graders, I see tremendous growth from fall to spring. Tough decision but I think second overall.
