What are the ups and downs of primary school teaching?

Answer 1

Ups: * Young children are mostly keen to learn. They have a positive attitude towards schooling, and an eagerness to learn without the cynicism that makes its way into an older student's attitude. As long as they are praised and encouraged, they will keep trying to learn, even if it is only to please their teacher. * If your own interests are many and varied, you have the opportunity to follow your interests and bring them into the classroom in so many ways that are perhaps more restricted in high school. Curriculum limitations still apply, but there is more of a personal freedom in exploring interesting topics. * A young child's sense of humour is a marvellously entertaining thing. Children have a unique way of looking at the world, and unlike teenagers in high school, they are not trying to impress anyone. They are completely natural. * Young children are very "giving" in nature, drawing pictures or making things that they proudly present to their teacher. Their wide-eyed generosity is a wonderful thing in a largely selfish world. Downs: * If you are a perfectionist in nature, or have a tendency towards impatience, you will find primary teaching very frustrating. Children will make mistakes, and they will upset your plans and your good intentions. * Primary school children have greater needs than older students. As the teacher, you are laying the very foundation of whether or not they will learn the basics of reading, writing and numeracy. * Younger children have more problems expressing their needs - what they don't understand, for example. You need to be able to rephrase a question or instruction in numerous ways, in order to facilitate the learning of all the individuals in a class. You often need to repeat instructions several times, and often in different ways. * Assessment needs are often higher, and actual preparation and working hours are longer. High school teachers have a higher standard to schieve, but they have more "spares" during the day to prepare, whilst a primary teacher's non-contact time during the week is much more limited.

Answer 2

Positives about being a junior primary teacher:

the children are eager learners.

the children love you

you see children grow academically and emotionally

you can help children with learning problems

you can help children with emotional problems

thanks from the parents- you do get this, truly!

you can make the lessons live - practical lessons, school trips, artwork, drama

you teach a wide variety of subjects - so little monotony

Negatives of being a primary teacher:

marking, marking, marking

planning, preparation and reports

long hours, long days and weekend work

difficult parents, uninterested parents