the teaching experience (grades 8-12)

[sciencelover]

I am not a teacher just yet, but will be after I graduate in a few semesters. That being said, I have a question to current teachers new and old. I will be certified to teach biology and chemistry to grades 8-12. My question: What is it like teaching high school students in the public school system? I won't be teaching in a big city. Is high school pleasant to teach or are the teens more difficult than the younger students? I want to know your feelings on teaching this age group.
Any thoughts or advice is appreciated.
:eek:

[Boxcar]

I teach preschool. Personally, I think my age group is easier than high or middle school.

There are benefits to the older ones though. They don't need to be reminded to go to the bathroom or use a Kleenx for one thing. Another great thing is the logical and fruitful conversations you can have. Little kids are fun to converse with too, but it is different with the upper grades.

[Boxcar]

Being a techer means having a tough skin, but I think it is most important when teaching teens. (Yes, I posted too soon. Again. My fingers work faster than my brain.)

[Chef Dave]

My question: What is it like teaching high school students in the public school system? I won't be teaching in a big city. Is high school pleasant to teach or are the teens more difficult than the younger students? I want to know your feelings on teaching this age group.


I am a former elementary teacher with 17 years experience teaching grades 3, 4, and 5. After burning out as an elementary teacher, I got a culinary arts degree and worked in the hospitality and food service industry for several years. I am now back in education and just completed my first year as a high school chef instructor of a culinary arts program.

Teaching high school is different from teaching elementary students. In some ways it is also the same.

There is a saying about elementary teachers. Elementary teachers generalize in everything but specialize in nothing. Having been an elementary teacher, I think this is basically true.

As an elementary teacher, I taught all core subject areas. In one district I was even responsible for teaching art, music, and PE after budget cuts eliminated teachers in these areas.

I spent a great deal more time planning lessons as an elementary teacher than I did as a high school instructor. In high school, most teachers are specialists. We may have some beginning classes to teach. We may have advanced classes to teach ... but in general, we only teach one subject which makes it far easier to plan lessons.

In matters of classroom management, the basic underlying concept remains the same. Teachers still need to be firm, fair, and consistent with the enforcement of their expectations.

I have found that instead of direct confrontation with high school students over matters of classroom management, it is far better to approach such matters by offering these students choices.

For example, when I found a student in my restaurant operations class was found under portioning french fries that had also been undercooked, he was given a choice. He could fix the problem by recooking and reportioning all fries or he could go on dish tank and assist the class by washing pots and pans. When he said, "I ain't redoing the fries," I told him that he could go on dish tank. When he said, "I ain't doing that either," I gave him a third and final choice. He could either recook and reportion the fries, go on dish tank, or have an attitude check with the building administrator.

The student chose to redo the fries.

Although teenagers are often as large if not larger than most of their adult instructors, they are still kids. I think that many of these student would still like the approval of their teachers even though most would never admit this.

As with elementary students, verbal praise and recognition is generally well received.

One thing I will mention is that as a culinary arts instructor, I am not a core academic instructor. As such, I have a number of advantages over other teachers.

1) My class size tends to be much smaller which makes class management a lot easier. I also have far fewer papers, tests, and final exams to grade.

2) Since my class is an elective, most of my students WANT to be in culinary arts - so I generally don't encounter serious attitude problems with students. My most serious problem to date has come from the fact that some students don't like to clean. They have no problem with cooking and eating but seem to think that cleaning is a job for the building custodian. Such students have either wound up scrubbing out grease traps and garbage cans before recanting their attitudes or they have been permanently withdrawn class.

3) Since most people LIKE food, I have found that the occasional disbursement of chocolate chip cookies and ice cream as a treat for jobs that were particularly well done is a wonderful incentive. Unlike other high school teachers, my classroom is well stocked with food and beverages.

In contrast, core academic teachers have to teach EVERYONE regardless of whether or not they want to be there. Students who do not pass their core academic classes are at risk for not graduating, which can make the experience extremely frustrating for both teachers and students.

In general, although I treasure the time I worked as an elementary teacher, I would much rather be a high school chef instructor.

As a culinary arts instructor, I am not responsible for state testing and have the creative flexibility to teach whoever I want to teach provided I teach all state standards.

As an elementary teacher I kept the bottom drawer of my desk stocked with granola bars and sodas. As a culinary arts teacher, I have an ice cream machine, beverage dispenser, and ice dispenser. I also have a walk in freezer and cooler full of goodies.
:)

[Boxcar]

I really like the quote about specializing in nothing. I feel that way sometimes. I have to teach the kids music, movement, creative art, pre-reading, pre-writing, social studies, math, science, sensory, speaking, cooking, and technology. It can be overwhelming to remember all the different things I need to attend too.

Choices work really well with my little kids too: "Do you want to lay quietly at nap or play with a puzzle on your cot?", "Do you want to share the blocks or find another activity where you can play alone?", "Do you want to eat your peas first or start your sandwich?", and so on.

[Aziz]

I think the nice thing about teaching high school students school is that you can start treating your students like adults. They are mature enough to handle humor, and have the ability to refocus after a good joke when middle schoolers often don't.

The challenge with teenagers is often when they do stupid things, they do them on a larger scale. Whereas in middle school you might be dealing with rumors, in high school you're dealing with drugs and drunk driving.

In general, I think teaching high school students involves dealing with stronger personalities. While I think in middle school and elementary school students have strong personalities, I think they are more easily influenced by others. By high school, while some are still on their way to being their own person, at least some students are already used to being in their own skin and not working by such a strong herd mentality. It's nice to come across people that have a better idea of what they enjoy doing and what sets them apart from everyone else.

-Aziz

[Boxcar]

Of course, you can't overlook how cute the little ones are. A hug can just make your day! And the things they say are absolutely hilarious.

[merrynl]

Your experience teaching in a high school depends a lot on where you end up. One thing I loved when I was student teaching is that I had the freedom to choose what I wanted to teach when, as long as I followed the standards. Now, I'm in a larger district where I'm told which chapters to teach during which parts of each term, adn given a preferable order for it all. It's not something I enjoy. It is nice when I'm given a subject I'm less experienced with. But next year I"l get to teach Integrated Chemistry and Physics. I'm even told which labs to do and when. it's crazy to me...

Also, your administration and fellow faculty make a big difference. If you mesh well with them (meaning work together well, not become best of friends with them) it makes it a lot easier. I think this is harder to judge until you're actually teaching there though.

I enjoy my job most days. Some days it's incredibly frustrating, others it's incredibly rewarding. One difficulty I have is that most sophomores take my science class for their science credit. Some choose to be there, many are pushed into it (unless they're honors students and get pushed into chemistry). I always get a few kids who are a pain, but for the most part I like the kids and the kids like me. That makes it a LOT easier to enjoy spending 71 minutes a day with them.

Everyone has a different experience teaching High School. It depends on a lot of things, especially how well your attitudes, preparation and ideas fit in the school climate. Spend as much time in classrooms as you can before you finish school. I loved that my teacher education program put me in the classroom 3 semesters before I student taught. If yours doesn't include this, find one where you might be able to volunteer.

[Boxcar]

The specific school is also a big factor in Early Childhood. Some centers are great. Others make you fear for the children's learning!

[brhodewalt]

I am not a teacher just yet, but will be after I graduate in a few semesters. That being said, I have a question to current teachers new and old. I will be certified to teach biology and chemistry to grades 8-12. My question: What is it like teaching high school students in the public school system? I won't be teaching in a big city. Is high school pleasant to teach or are the teens more difficult than the younger students? I want to know your feelings on teaching this age group.
Any thoughts or advice is appreciated.
:eek:

Some great advice here so far, including this: "I think the nice thing about teaching high school students school is that you can start treating your students like adults. They are mature enough to handle humor, and have the ability to refocus after a good joke when middle schoolers often don't."

Without being a pushover or a "cool" teacher (buddy vs. leader, which may be a temptation for you with your age), I found most of my success comes from getting them on my side. There are hundred ways to do this and a thousand ways not to. Keep observing, reflecting, and adjusting your methods. Be yourself.

[syndilee]

I have been teaching for 30+ years... about a third of that was high school - the rest middle. I LOVE middle school. I love the ups and downs - the 7th grade humor - the fact that you can still REALLY touch a life. Although I also really love and enjoy 9th grade - after that, I find I get incredibly frustrated with how much more today's highshoolers know than me - and they are so ready to let you know. Seniors are the worst... they've checked out (the fact that our school system needs MASSIVE revamping on how we do school - should be competency, not seat hours - is a blog of its own!) and they are hard to reach. Some people have the knack. Most public high schools are lax on dress codes, expectations, and with today's NCLB, the pressure to get them to pass classes they don't want to be in is incredible.

As a passionate middle school teacher... I can prepare my students for HS - and joke and have fun in a way I never felt worked with high school. AND - we need GREAT middle school teachers. If you love them, you should be there! At times, they are not easy to teach - but the rewards are amazing.

Finally - as someone else mentioned - the school atmosphere will make all the difference. If you are at a HS where the staff is supportive and fun and family - it will be a great experience. If you feel you are bucking all the admin and other teachers and that they would rather you NOT disturb the way it has been for a million years - it will be a nightmare.

As a last note - I'd highly recommend you check into Power Teaching. You can search it on google or on teacher tube. (This is the second time I answered... the first time, I put in a link to teacher Tube and power teaching... not aware of the fact that probationary members can't put in links! oops!)

Good luck!