What is it like to teach third grade?
338195
I teach a 3/4/5 combo class in a tiny rural district. I love my third graders! They are always (as a group) so much better behaved than my older ones. They still want to please adults and are still complete sponges.No hormones! They are usually more trustworthy because of this, so I can set them up to work independently more often than older ones who may like to cheat and need more supervision. Also, you don't have to bend over with them near as much (as in kindergarten), which saves wear and tear on your back and knees.
1108099
Um, if you skipped from 3rd to 6th, it would have been because you knew the information taught in those other grades.\n\nThe assignment itself is very clear: write a topic sentence, and provide supporting sentences that give examples.\n\nNo "pro" teacher is going to do your job for you.\n\nDo your own work, show what you can do (and what you still need help on), so that your teacher knows what to start with on helping you.
1055068
All of the answers that you have been given so far are good!!  I am an elementary teacher and one thing that I would ask is that you teach your child how to follow directions. You would be suprised how many children have a hard time listening and following simple directions.
365588
I don't teach the small kids, but I think that there are some things that all teachers need to do before the kids come in:\n\n1.  Make sure your room is set up with the appropriate materials, posters, decorations....  Every grade requires that certain things are posted.  You may have to have a calendar posted with the days of the week spelled out and the seasons posted on it for little ones.  You may need the basic colors posted, the alphabet....\n\n2.  Make sure that you have a week and a half worth of lessons planned.  Teachers have to overplan at all times.\n\n3.  Call the parents to introduce yourself.\n\n4.  Prepare a letter to the parents.\n\n5.  Prepare a syllabus and rule list for your parents to read and sign.\n\nI hope this helps a bit!
889484
It depends on who you ask and how their week went.  Check the answers that are posted during the weekend as opposed to during the school week, lol.  :)  \n\nI've been teaching for 3 years and still love it.  There are all sorts of trying days and all sorts of really difficult people to have to work with, for, around, etc.  Reaching children on a personal level makes it all worthwhile.  So do the daily hugs that some students must give you in order to get their day started off right.  With education in the US, there's all sorts of stupid politics and ridiculous testing mandates that can quickly suck the life out of a person.  It's important not to get bogged down.  Not taking your work home with you will help.  I personally love teaching elementary school, but there are days when I long for a classroom full of thoughtful middle schoolers who can have more engaging conversations about the world (assuming such a class exists).  I couldn't handle high schoolers.  My husband is great with them.  They just frustrate me because I know they're about to go out into the work force for good.  \nOverall though, it's fulfilling to the people who put into it what they expect to get out of it.  Best wishes!
352977
A teacher hit me with her fists on both sides of my ribs. I was in third grade. In sixth grade, a teacher threw tape at me, and hit me in the side of my head. There dead now. whats? with 3 grade teachers
626888
I teach my students that a theme is the three L's--a LESSON about LIFE you can LEARN from a story.
718865
To a third grader the task seems insurmountable so you need to make it seem less intimidating.  With all my classes I always did this activity at "times tables" time.\n\nI wrote all the times tables lists on the chalk boardor white board, from 0x0 to 9x9 in lists of the 0 times, 1 times, and so on.  Then I would say to the kids something like, "Ok, here are all the times tables you have to learn" and they would all groan.  Then I'd say, "Let's look at this and see how easy it really is".  So first we'd see how many they already knew, and usually we could establish that everyone already knew all the 0 times, 1 times, and often 2 times and 5 times, and we would clean all of those off the board in each place they occurred (two places) so we would begin to have gaps. \n\nThen we'd talk about the finger math method of figuring out all the 9 times and erase all of those because they could quickly come up with those.  (The method is described in the first link.) \n\nThen we'd look at the ones that were left and talk about the fact that every single one was there twice, as 8x7 is the same as 7x8, etc., and we'd erase one of each pair.  Then we'd be left with the ones they actually had to concentrate on learning.  By then the task didn't seem nearly as insurmountable.\n\nI've included a couple of other links that should be helpful.  Good luck with it.
197873
I don't think there is one answer for all those age groups.  The ratio would be different for 3 year olds than for 12 year olds.  I say that from my background as classroom teacher (all grades from K to 10 over 32 years) and special education teacher.\n\nIn my teaching career I found that if class numbers were 20 or less, the learning situation was much better than in bigger classes.  When I taught high school, classes of 25 were not as difficult as classes of 25 younger students.  With numbers less than 20 after about third grade I sometimes found there was not enough interaction and variety in the class.     \n\nAs a special education teacher I found that 1 on 1 was rarely if ever the best scenario - too intense and too much pressure on the child.  None of us could cope with being taught 1 - 1 all day.  For teaching of specific skills in special education I preferred groups of about 6 or 8.\n\nI did not ever teach children as young as 3 (other than my own children), but I would guess a ratio of no more than 10 or 12 to 1 would be workable.  For kindergarten I would recommend no more than 15 - 1.\n\nThose are my thoughts on it.  I hope this helps.
168164
1. Take everything you'll need, with you, such as pens, pencils, paper clips, stickers, any supplies for your grade level.\n2. Have in mind some puzzles, stories, brain teasers, etc. for those spare moments.\n3. Stay professional at all times.
256966
I found teaching at the university level a whole different experience from teaching at the elementary or middle school or high school level.  The work load is quite different - extracurricular is not expected, for example.  You don't teach five hours a day and do recess duty and lunch duty and bus duty and after school activities.  There aren't behavior issues as a rule.  Students are responsible for themselves and if they don't complete work you don't chase them for it.  Teaching adults, or almost adults, is less stressful in many ways than teaching in the secondary school system.  The content is more demanding, but also more structured in many ways.  You have an office of your own, and sometimes even a teaching assistant or a graduate student assigned to you.  On the other hand, I didn't find it as rewarding as teaching younger kids.  So there is a balance there.\n\nI hope these thoughts help.
1160676
The pre-school that I was fortunate enough to have been a part of in Minneapolis, MN did.\n\nThe Lead Teacher and myself (Assistant Teacher), took the time to make sure our children practiced etiquette/ethics frequently.  You would be surprised how impressionable and teachable children are on these two subjects at this age.\n\nIt worked excellent!!
246057
Perhaps Half of the folks here are not in third grade yet :o)
936139
Hope this helps - I've dozens more, if you need. \n(I am an elementary teacher and have taught third grade.)\n\nGiving Thanks:  A Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake Swamp\nIt's a beautiful story with cool illustrations written by a Mohawk Chief - good for Thanksgiving, Earth Day, or environmental units\nhttp://www.leeandlow.com/teachers/guide12.html\n\n\nMy Teacher for President by Kay Winters\nfun, short, and good for a quick read or discussion about the president or America themes\nhttp://www.kaywinters.com/my_teacher.htm\n\nOfficer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathman\nadorable story on safety and working as a team\nhttp://www.peggyrathmann.com/officerbuckle.html\n\n\nSorry to say, many of the other suggestions seem a little juvenile for third grade.
342949
Honestly I don't sorry, but if there's somthing wrong with the teacher, as if their hitting kids, or yelling at/intimidating them. REPORT THEM IMMEDIATELY!, I had a 3rd grade teacher who made almost every single kid in my class cry (I was the only one who didn't because I have a psychological abnomality that dosn't allow me to portray my emotions correctly), Please don't let your or anyone else child continue to be abused by a bad teacher. If the teacher is awesome though, cool deal. I would sit in during a few classes (if not working) and check out the teacher yourself though. First thing always though, believe the children who attend the class, if you need a really good review of a teacher ask their students what they are like.
970235
I taught 5th grade a few yrs ago. I liked using their literature stories and have the students pick a character and write the story from a different perspective. You can also allow them to write about their hobby,how would someone describe you if they came into your room and didn't know you?What will you be involved in in high school? What is your goal for 30 yrs of age? Write about fav sportsman. Who is their hero? What is a hero? Feelings about America? I once did a story on a bag of marshmallows and they wrote from the marshmallows veiw. It was a good topic. You can use everyday objects and lay one on each desk. Recently I had my grandkids write a story about 3 items that I picked for them. The items had nothing in common but they wrote great stories. They also made a story plan by filling out a form with the characters,problem,2 paragraphs about how to solve the problem,how it was solved, and wraping up in the last paragragh. The next time I let them pick the items but it took them forever to get them. I think they were trying to think up a story while looking for the items. I was actually working with one grandson who was behind in reading due to ADHD( Delux!). He learned some from the new ideas I found for him and it was nice that the others of about the same age wrote with him.PBS.com is where I got some of my ideas(games,worksheets,books) to help him this summer so he got caught up. "Mrs.McGowen Lots About Reading" in the PBS site is a great source and has many ideas on all subjects. Best wishes! I miss teaching but have my hands full with grandkids!
803092
Since I have already been through school, the rest of my life will be hard, because I don't know what to expect.  In school, you had three things to look forward to...socializing, tests and the bell to let you out at 3ish.