This is a question for the teachers out there. What did you find the most difficult part of your early career?

Trying to find the balance between wanting to be my silly self, and still being a somewhat authority figure. It hasn’t worked out yet. GQ btw.

I’m not a teacher, and don’t have advice; but it is a great question, because teaching is more difficult than most people seem to think. I also wanted to say that it’s good to see you… it’s been a little while, and I hope that all is well with you and your loved ones.

Public speaking. I am fine when actually giving direct instruction, but I tend to stumble over the “filler” words (the stuff you need to make up to link some instructions to the next). For some reason, that part never seems to go away.

1. The level of subject-specific knowledge to answer the more difficult questions that really require a subtle answer.

2. responding to learner needs on-the-fly.

I’m a language teacher; I don’t know if this will be an issue for teachers of other subjects.

My neighbor is an elementary school teacher, and she works in the inner-city school district and she said dealing with students from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, whose parents may have different views than most in western society, have limited English ability, etc.

From someone I worked with for a very limited time who was a special ed teacher for students with mild disabilities (who spent most of their time in a normal classroom), it was the office politics, and not being taken advantage of by those who knew just what they were doing. And also balancing work with having a life.

My mom was a special ed teacher for those with severe to profound disabilities, and she said figuring out how to not give your life away to deal with the paperwork. For a regular teacher I can imagine this is comparable to classroom plans and grading.

1. Classroom management and dealing with the students “testing” you
2. How to handle the difficult questions that you might not have the answer to

I think getting the feel for the particular class of student sand building rapport. Once they like you, and you have a set of rituals and routines in place, then the rest is easy. With young kids it’s really important to be very clear about your instructions.

One thing I remember needing to master early on in teaching is really about the use of energy. Very often (especially with young kids) it can be exhausting. So you need to keep centered, find methods and structure that will keep them engaged without exhausting you.

And… enjoy the ride! Good days of teaching will give you energy. Above all, it’s very much about staying present with the kids and sensing them as little beings with oodles of potential. Young kids in particular will surprise you with their ways of understanding the world.

Feeling judged by others—administrators, colleagues, students, parents…I’m basically fine now. I got over it by saying “yes” to everything professional that came along and welcoming failure as a learning experience.

It was classroom management for me. I came across this wonderful resource taught by a man named Harry Wong. I learned to have procedures instead of rules and always keep the students busy. Believe it or not they like structure and respond well to it. It makes your job easier and more enjoyable.

@Flo_Nightengale Show us some links, please.

@Flo_Nightengale Just don’t mention that guy’s name to the students unless you want a “classroom management” issue on your hands. Harry Wong? For real?

The school I teach at had the videos. Here are a few links and I hope it is helpful to everyone. It worked for me! This concept can be adapted to all ages. Enjoy everyone.

http://www.classroommanagement.com/
http://www.glavac.com/harrywong.htm
http://nerds.unl.edu/pages/preser/sec/articles/wonguide.html

I was a full time sub. I got frustrated with teachers who had absolutely NO CLUE as to what a sub faces. Their “angels” turn into brats in the presence of a sub! First 15 minutes in any new class was spent slapping them back into angels! But they’d “forget” to bring assignments or books, stuff they wouldn’t do to the regular teacher. Some teachers would blame it on me! (Those were the same teachers who’d leave lesson plans that read, “Ask students what to do.” Right. Said students would go brain dead, or try and send me off on a wild hare!)

@Val123 Sounds like you were dealing with very unprofessional teachers. I am willing to bet these same teachers lack passion for their job.

@Flo_Nightengale Most of the teachers were great. Just a few were stuped and clueless.

Projects with disappointing results. Allow yourself to try new things, and then fix or abandon what is not working.

Admitting to myself that I really don’t know everything. As a teacher, you feel you have to be fount of all knowledge but what worked better for me was to step into the role of a learner and a teacher. Don’t lose control of your classroom. Keep that. But in this day and age, I think it is important to teach our students how we learn so they can learn to learn on their own. Reliance on the teacher will not help them be self-learners or self-starters. Show them how you learn by learning with them.

@mrjadkins Good point! I also learned that the best way to master a subject is to teach it. Setting the ego aside was a struggle for me at first, too.

@ru2bz46 From your nick, you have a sense of humour. That helps a lot when teaching.

@NewZen Lol! Yes, that helps, too…especially during the more difficult instruction.

Thank you everyone for such great answers! I am noticing that I am having difficulty remembering the curriculum because its been so long since I have learned what the children learn now. I feel clueless sometimes and I hate that feeling. I also dont like the fact that (especially in NY) it is extremely hard to find a good teaching job and I feel like it is so competitive that everyones out to get you. Is it going to be hard for me to keep my job? Im so nervous. I am also having difficulty in deciding what to get my masters in. I have to specialize in something and I am just not sure what yet.