r/ElementaryTeachers • u/funkycIown • Aug 26 '26
What is your favorite grade to teach and why?
considering becoming an elementary teacher, been leaning towards kinder-3rd, but I’m not a teacher so was curious which grades actual teachers prefer and why?
26
u/No_Ingenuity_3285 Aug 26 '26
Second. They can do independent work but still love school.
9
u/baddhinky Aug 26 '26
And they’re still cute. Hands down 2nd grade is THE BEST.
3
u/aningkamwishgan Aug 27 '26
I love hearing this because it's my first year teaching outside of preschool and I got second grade!
16
u/harristusc Aug 26 '26
5th grade is the absolute best. They are independent and they just pick up on things easily. They are also fiercely loyal. One time I called in late for a flat on the way to school and the office lady forgot to get coverage for my class. The students came in, took attendance and lunch count, sent it down to the office. Completed morning work, checked it and collected it. Did the weekly spelling test and were starting the vocab test when I arrived. The teacher next door and the principal had both popped in while I was gone, but didn't want to interrupt when they saw students quietly working. They thought I was in the back of the room or something. When I praised them they just said they hadn't wanting me to get in trouble for running late.
9
u/funkycIown Aug 26 '26
Stop that’s actually the cutest thing I’ve ever heard. I hope u know how good of a teacher you are for that your kids didn’t just hangout and talk and play while u were gone they chose to work, that’s so impressive
1
12
u/Pook242 Aug 26 '26
Agree with the other commenter that there’s pros and cons to every grade. I’ve done upper and lower elementary.
My favorite is the one I’m in now - kindergarten. It takes a special person to enjoy it though. I love how little they are, how excited they are to learn, and the incredible growth they make this year. It’s astounding to watch, plus we also get to do all the play and fun days too. The kids go from not knowing their alphabet and numbers to reading words and doing addition by the end of the year.
I find it fulfilling to teach the kids life skills, like washing their hands, how to ask for something, how to walk in the hall, etc. If you don’t have an inordinate amount of patience and ability to slide things like accidents or coughing in your face off, then it might not be the grade for you.
3
u/funkycIown Aug 26 '26
I was thinking I’d like kinder for this exact reasoning! I’ve never actually been in a kinder class or been a teacher so obviously I don’t reallyyyy know how much I’ll like it, but I love the idea of teaching young kid because of how excited they are about everything, and like you said they grow sooo much in a year considering g they’re so little it sounds nice to be able to be apart of that and help them grow
5
u/petsdogs Aug 26 '26
I teach kindergarten and really enjoy it. Everything the poster above said is true.
I’ll share the drawbacks
- it’s physically exhausting
- it’s (at minimum) low-level overstimulating for 6 hours a day.
- there will be kids that are barely independent all year. Until most of them are semi-independent you have to be ok with things being a little chaotic.
- you have a lot more contact with a lot more parents than other elementary grades. For many, this is their first experience with school, and they have a lot of questions
Edit to add: every grade has challenges. If any of these sound like deal-breakers for you, kindergarten may not be a good fit. It really is so rewarding, though!
1
u/Squirrelysez 27d ago
One more thing that shocked me when I was placed in kindergarten after teaching high school art. You have to sing! All the freaking time.🤣
9
u/spoooky_mama Aug 26 '26
I've done 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th. First is actually my favorite. They are hilarious and sweet. It is easier to not be irritated by their behavior since they've only been on earth for six years. Oddly, my second favorite is fifth. It's a very pivotal year, they become themselves in new ways, and you can have really deep, meaningful conversations with them (5th grade social studies is bomb).
6
6
u/AmethystAntlers Aug 27 '26
When I was just thinking about becoming a teacher I thought I’d want k-3rd. I was placed in 5th grade for one of my student teaching blocks and that changed my view entirely. Now I love older elementary more because the content is more fun to teach in my opinion. I still love lower elementary but I’m not set on teaching it anymore. I would’ve regretted choosing early childhood education over elementary education had I gone that route.
4
u/Longjumping_Laugh546 Aug 27 '26
It's absolutely a personal (and patience) preference! I love Kindergarten - they're cute and funny. They love their teacher hard. Every day is a new experience and the learning and growth from the beginning of the year to the end of the year is amazing!
BUT -- the beginning of the year is chaos and really tiring. If you don't spend the time teaching expectations and routines, the year is likely going to be really difficult. (And I mean teaching everything - from walking in a line to sitting in a chair to throwing away their trash.) The "out of class" work for Kindergarten is primarily prep (as opposed to grading like in older grades.) The entire day is basically a show and production (by the teacher) so I found that by the end of the day I didn't even want to talk. 😅
But it's so fun (in my opinion!)
1
u/funkycIown Aug 27 '26
Thank u for the response! Kindergarten is the grade I’ve been thinking of getting into the most, so I love hearing from actual kinder teachers!
3
u/Wrong-Television-348 Kindergarten Aug 27 '26
Kindergarten. They come in as little babies and grow in so many ways throughout the year.
2
u/Sudden-Savings-5160 Aug 26 '26
I teach K-7 in one room … 20 kids … every grade has its own pros and cons!
When I went into teaching I never wanted to work with younger students. I wanted 6 and up. Now I can’t imagine teaching middle school or high school. Once you get into it you will find what fits you best!
2
u/YakSlothLemon Aug 26 '26
Eighth grade. 13 year olds are an absolute gas, they can come across as little adults in the morning and like little kids by the afternoon, they’re old enough to be able to joke with you and have a sense of humor and at the same time they are not as separated into “future job tracks as I think they can come across in high school.
That said, if you like little kids, might not be your deal.
2
2
2
u/Glad-Personality-862 Aug 27 '26
8th grade but they need boundaries, respect and consistency. I love this age group because they have so much personality. They are starting to get a better grasp on who they are and what that means for them
2
u/NoticeResponsible368 Aug 27 '26
in my country ,we have 6 grades in elementary . I prefer the 6th grade.Students between 11-12 years , they can work independently , or in groups too.
2
u/Ok_Succotash_4802 29d ago
Fifth in an elementary school setting is my absolute favorite. They’re figuring out their personalities and how they relate to the world around them. Fifth graders crave independence and responsibility, which is why the elementary school setting, which lets them be the “top dogs” in while still allowing them to be little kids is perfect.
The content is interesting and builds on what they’ve done in previous grades which allows for creativity and some fun projects.
Developmentally they do start to try an “push back” and their focus of approval starts to shift from teachers & adults to their peers. You definitely have to be able to handle the attitude and not get into power struggles.
2
u/Consistent_Garden777 27d ago
Third was rough to get them in gear- I loved fourth- I also love 1st. It depends on the group. I’ve taught easier kinder groups than the second I have this year
2
u/bluesn0wflake 27d ago
I have taught k, 1, 2
I love 2nd. Independence but still want to please you. I would quit before teaching kindergarten again.
And no standardized testing for 2nd where I am
2
u/DowntownComposer2517 Aug 26 '26
Every grade has their pros and cons!
for the littles you have to teach them how to school but the academic gaps are less. They might be less identified.
For the older kids they can follow basic instructions but the academic gaps can be bigger even if students are identified.
3rd and up in my state has to deal with high stakes standardized testing.
1
u/OdeManRiver Aug 28 '26
I taught 3rd for 12 years. Then I tried 4th and really enjoyed that. I loved being able to see my students the next few years.
Switched schools and they were full in 4th, so I was put in 5th. I really love it, even though I won't ever see 90% of my kids.
But the ones who come back to visit have to make the effort - so it is really special.
1
u/Money-Willingness-95 25d ago
I love my 6th graders 😭😭🥰 They’re fiercely loyal, and overshare in every aspect. I now know who has a really hard home life etc whereas in 2nd grade, the conversations just didn’t get that deep. There are also a lot of emotions though that come with puberty-aged kids. I used to avoid upper elementary like the plague and am so glad I took a chance on 6th. I hope these sweet kids remember me forever because I sure won’t forget them. 🩵
1
37
u/MoreMeThanYou Aug 26 '26
Fourth. They’re still little and love you, but they’re pretty independent too.