I don't know if its just me or what, but I really like teaching the younger students. Like the kindergarten groups that I just taught today and last week. Although I think I got really lucky with these past two groups! By that I mean, they were really smart in engaging.
But that's what I like about teaching that young audience, there are always engaged in some way or another. Its like filling the blank slate with information that might or might not stick with them as they move through life.
I think also I like teaching the younger groups more, is because they are easier to manage. I really don't have to push them to behave. They so far have been really good at behaving and most I would dare say are very mature for their age.
Now that I say this I am sure I will get a group that is challenging behaviorally in the near future. However, in many senses I like those challenging groups because I learn more when I have to deal with more things at once. Rather then having the children who are good behaviorally and intellectually.
So I knock on wood as a write this and hope I get a group where I don't have to deploy a lot of behavior management techniques but still are intellectually challenging.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I find it ironic you wrote about how you like the "challenging" groups, yet last week you could not stop exemplifying how bad your geology group was. Did you do more reflecting that night and realize they made you a better educator?
ReplyDeleteIt is always nice to learn from our mistakes. I agree that I love teaching the younger ones. Their so excited about everything, and generally want to try everything. Their eagerness and enthusiasm is contagious. I also like the fact that they are smaller, and so very cute. I think every group has a new aspect that we can learn from.
ReplyDeleteThey are pretty darn cute aren't they. It can be like herding puppies at times because their attention spans are just not there. There seems to be a huge difference between kindergarten and first grade developmentally. I have to appreciate a crowd that still believes in magic muffins. It seems that kids lose their imaginations much more quickly than when I was growing up and at younger ages. I don't know if it is a result of being exposed to more or having toys that interact and do things for you or what. Just an observation.
ReplyDeleteAge differences do exist. I am glad they went easier on you. Melissa does Kindergarten everyday and you have to be high energy just to keep up with them...
ReplyDelete