Your Greatest Challenge?
Posted by Debra Liverman on 08 Sep 2008 | Posted in: Teachers and Teaching
Well, you did it! You set up your classroom, planned your lessons, met your new students, and probably have at least one week of school already under your belt. You are well on your way to a successful school year. Congratulations!
Isn’t it amazing that no matter how many years you’ve been teaching, each new school year presents its own unique challenges? That is what makes teaching such an amazing, never dull, and incredibly rewarding career. So, now that you’ve had a glimpse into your school year, what do you think will be your greatest challenge? Is it getting comfortable with a new curriculum? A large class size? Differentiating for a diverse group of students? Getting parents involved? Classroom management? Something else?
Looking forward to hearing your comments!
Debra
36 Comments |
Subscribe
|
Email This
36 Responses to “Your Greatest Challenge?”
More Comments Pages: « 1 [2] 3 » Show All Comments
More Comments Pages: « 1 [2] 3 » Show All Comments
I am an inclusion teacher with students K through 2nd grade. My biggest challenge is trying to meet the needs of all the K-2 grade level teachers and ese students at my school and I see their biggest challenge is trying to get all the district-required assessments done, and find the time to teach.
I find my biggest challenge is both managing my school and teaching our PreK class. I’m only a second year teacher and a first year manager and am trying to balance it all. In fact, I haven’t even taught a complete year, since I was hired in March of last year! My plate is full, and 90% of my students have emotional and/or attatchment issues, can be very violent (I’m filing out BooBoo reports daily)and refuse to listen to me (even with plenty of free play and structured activities and consistent disciplin measures). Plus, one student is ESL and only understands English but speaks very little! Help, I’m stressed and have zero time for creative lesson planning! I guess that’s where you come in. Without you, I don’t know where I’d be!
It seems most everyone whose blogged so far is teaching early learners. I’m teaching 4th grade; it’s my 16th year (not in 4th, I’ve taught K,2 and 3 also) My biggest challenge is having the time to cover everything with the limited amount of time in the classroom. My children are pulled out for Resource Room, Reading, Math, Orchestra, Band, VIP services, counseling. I have 25 children this year and the diversity is vast. Trying to differentiate is a challenge. Bethany, the centers are a great idea, but finding the time to make all the centers is extremely time consuming. I don’t have an extra 5 minutes a day and I spend a good deal of my time at home on classwork as it is. Any suggestions on how to create the centers without giving up sleeping?
I agree behavior challenges can be maddening! I have one main “challenger” this year. She is like a tiny bubbling cauldron much of the time. I sure hope I can help her adjust and cope with whatever is happening in her life to cause her to act this way.
Teaching 4’s for 12 years. Biggest challenge so far is the food allergies.One boy allergic to almost all our foods, including our playdough. Even touching another child who has had a dairy product before coming in can lead to tragic results. So far so good.
My biggest challenge is the large number of K kids in my 2 classes and the huge differences in their abilities. Some have never held scissors or a pencil before, while others are cutting hearts, etc. and copying words like crazy from the word wall and name cards. Sweet children though, and no major behaviour problems which makes a big difference!
I loved reading these blogs! This is my second year in K, and I totally understand missing your first-year kids. I am really trying to find things out about the new ones, I even have a file on things I’ve learned about them to help me focus on THIS year instead of last. I am really struggling with discipline this year though, and I’m SO frustrated. My kids literally don’t seem to hear me when I talk, their ability to ignore is like working with teenagers!!! Help!
My biggest challenge is struggling with scheduling and trying to fit everything into our short time together. I have 2 sessions of 4K and we have 2 1/2 hours to try to get all the areas in that I need to cover.
I have two sources of tasks for my Early Finishers. One is their”Busy Box”, which is their personal Magazine file box that contains exercises or activities that are at their “just right level”. These keep the children motivated and independent at a time when I need to work with others. The other option is their Book Bags that hang from the back of their desks. These contain books at their independient reading level, that I update from time to time. This year, I have a parent who has offered to sew these for me. Otherwise, you can purchase asimple bag or backpack from the dollar stores.
My greatest challenge is the high number of children in my K class this year. 23 as of now. Seems to be no room whether at their tables or on the carpet for whole group
My greatest challenge is the behavior problems that certain students bring to the class. One student who is misbehaving and off task can throw all the students in the room off. I teach 6th grade English.
My greatest challenge is keeping 7 preschool teachers happy. I find the rivalry great, as it keeps everyone on their toes. It’s the jealousy over who has how many sessions in one week that get very petty. Who cares who comes up with an idea as long as the idea is good and it challenges the children.