Said It Here

How to transition from teaching older students to elementary school

Switching to elementary teaching means moving from subject-specific class periods to managing the same group of young children all day long, which can be overwhelming when you are used to older students or adults. This sudden shift leaves teachers scrambling to handle large groups of kids and figure out all-day classroom routines with very little prep time.

What people tried

Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.

  1. 1
    Using clear and direct expectations, if/then statements, and choice options to manage behavior.
  2. 2
    Spending the first few days going over routines and getting to know the students
  3. 3
    Bringing paper and crayons for students to use immediately upon entering
  4. 4
    Writing an agenda on the board with pictures for younger kids and checking off tasks as a class
  5. 5
    Building short breaks into the middle of each class
  6. 6
    Structuring lessons with difficult concepts first followed by relaxed activities

In their words

Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.

“My biggest worry is being with the same kids for the entire day as I’ve only ever done class periods.”source ↗

Apprehensive-Play228 · r/Teachers · 1 upvotes

“I have only ever taught adults in a one-on-one setting, and I have never worked with elementary-aged children.”source ↗

“Y'all, I'm so scared. I know my subject. I don't know how to manage children, especially large groups of them.”source ↗

“I was hired on Monday. Today is Saturday, and classes start on Tuesday. I have a first aid training class all day on Monday, so when exactly am I supposed to plan Tuesday's classes?”source ↗

MadameTomate · r/Teachers · 1 upvotes

Where this came up

r/Teacherscareer transitionclassroom managementeducationlesson planningteaching

People with this problem also raised