Unexplored teaching zone.

[Karenliao]

Hi, I'm new in here.:D

I'm looking for information about first graders. Although I have been teaching for five years, however, the grades I have taught are from the third to the sixth grades. This area is my first year to teach, and I'm a little bit nervous and worried that I can't handle very well. Could any of you have some experiences dealing with the first graders offer me some suggestions?

Sincerely thanks for your advice! :)

[lia]

Hi Karen,

I've taught first grader for ...ever, it seems ;) ... no, this is my 9th year teaching first grade, and I think the only thing I can stress to you is you need to get your routines down. Structure is very important for the little ones. So know your routines before you start, and enforce them from day one. Also know that you have to repeat and practice often. I'm not kidding when I say sometimes 2nd, 3rd week of school, we are still practicing our routines. But, it's all worth it later when you have a substitute--you don't have to worry because the class will run itself. If you have to loop with the kids, even better, because from the very first day of school, you can start learning because the kids are already used to your routines and know what you expect.

If you've got your routines down--especially morning routines, or after lunch/recess routines--it helps to settle the children and there are less behavior problems, plus it makes them more indepedent. I know that's something teachers from higher grades that move down to first are not accustomed to--the neediness of the kids :) They'll cling and whine and are very emotional--just be firm and fair. You'll have to repeat things a lot, and break down the steps, and model. A lot.

I hope I'm not scaring you. :o I think in asking other teachers about moving from upper grades, the thing they say first is "Oh, they're such babies!" ... and they don't mean they're cute and little. They're just used to more indepedent students. So that may be the first thing you notice, but like I said--establish your routines early, and practice often. You'll be surprised at how much they mature by the end of the year. :)

[TeacherRW]

Looks like you have gotten some really great advice already. The one thing that I suggest is to focus on your routines and procedures.

Good luck with your new little honeys. :)

[Karenliao]

Thanks for your sincere advice, lia and Robin.:)

I really don't have any experience contacting with these small kids. I guess the first thing is to get things done.
Just as you suggested, "routine" seems to be a vital issue for those "babies." "Babysitting" seems to be a fun and challenging job for me to get accustomed to.
I just wonder whether I have the patience to take care of these curious babies when they keep asking me questions I have already mentioned for several times.
You know, even the fifth or the sixth graders often ask me the same questions repeatedly! Not to mention these small kids! It could be a tough problem for me to change my attitude and the tone from dealing with the upper graders to the "naive first graders."

Karen :cool:

[AAA Teacher Forum]

Karen,
I taught 1st grade 8 years ago, so I know that things have changed since then. I am in agreement with the other posts...routines and consistency are HUGE!

I currently teach 4th grade and have found some great information on the various Scholastic pages. They can help you get an idea of what is appropriate for 1st graders, as well as resources for lessons and units. Here are a couple of their resources that may be worth checking out.
Scholastic Grades 1 & 2
http://teacher.scholastic.com/grade/grades12/

Scholastic: Your School Aged Child - Grade 1
http://www.scholastic.com/schoolage/grade1/

Enjoy your new learners!
Jennifer