I’m a chemistry major who’s currently looking at a teaching opportunity for 6th and 7th grade math. I’ve no experience teaching kids. Can anyone offer any advice?
Hello everybody! I am about to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, and I was recently recommended to a middle school principal for an open position as a math teacher. She sounded very excited to have me, and set up a meeting to discuss matters further.
I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, but had originally planned on getting a doctorate and teaching at a college level. Due to some recent issues in my personal life, however, this path has become much less achievable (I also just hate research and can’t bear the idea of spending the next 4-6 years doing it). While I don’t have any formal experience teaching, I was a tutor for several years, I did well enough for students to recommend and request me personally, and I loved every second of it. There was nothing more satisfying to me than going into a room of lost students, and working to help them understand the material on a conceptual level. I made lesson plans, stayed overtime, and took great care to help everyone who came to me. I loved watching them work out problems and slowly begin to understand the content beyond just memorization. Seeing that light bulb over their head finally turn on brought me more joy than any class, lab work, or internship experience ever did.
What I’m trying to say is that I’m very confident in my abilities to explain and educate students on course material. However, my big concern now is my lack of experience with kids. I know from the stories I’ve read that this age bracket is among the most challenging to deal with, and I’ve been trying to prepare by looking for as much advice as I can.
Below I’ve provided a list of important tips I’ve found. However, I would appreciate any additional help.
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Seating arrangements are vital. Don’t let students sit wherever they want, or they won’t stop talking. Assign them seats, and reward good class behavior by giving more “fun” seating arrangements (groups), and punish poor class behavior with “unfun” seating arrangements (alphabetical rows)
Have a routine, and make it so that students ate engaged as soon as they come in (daily warm up questions). This helps to get them on track, and gives them something to focus on while everyone is coming in.
Be strict, but fair. Don’t the fun teacher, but also don’t be cruel or mean. Set expectations for the class, ensure that the students know what’s expected of them, reward students who exceed expectations, and work with students who don’t. Make sure you establish clear boundaries, and don’t let students push those boundaries. If they try, punish them in accordance with the school’s standards. Don’t make empty threats.
Don’t let them talk while you talk. If students won’t settle down while you’re teaching, take note of who talks to who, and change seating arrangements accordingly. I had also planned on setting up some “talking chairs” in the front of the classroom. If a student can’t keep quiet during class, then they have to spend the rest of the class period sitting alone in the front of class.
Take up phones if the school allows it. Pretty self-explanatory.
Understand that teenagers are emotionally immature, and that outbursts are going to be inevitable. Try to connect with them and let them know that you genuinely care about them and want them to succeed. They won’t all appreciate this, but some of them will and it’ll help you earn their respect.
Have a sense of humor.