What Grade Do You Think Would Be the Hardest to Teach?

Having done K-12, I can tell you middle school was my least enjoyable. All those hormones and transitions- it's a lot.
I can deal with smaller kids. They are still respectful of adults for the most part.
High schoolers will do anything to avoid being embarrassed. It's their kryptonite.
Middle schoolers - They are somewhere in between. Not children, not young adults. So unpredictable.
I give major props to middle school teachers.

I LOVED teaching middle school. In my past life I taught sixth and seventh grade math. Yes there are hormones, fights and stinky kids, but they are independent. They are on the cusp of adulthood. They understand sarcasm at that point (sarcasm can make elementary kids cry). You don't have to explain every little detail, they can think for themselves (even if you wonder sometimes what they were thinking :) ). But they are also silly and still kids.

I think Kindergarten teachers are a special breed. I think kindergarten has to be tough!

JR HIGH!! Those kids can be TERRIBLE!

My favorite - Sophomores and Juniors - most of them have a hunger of learning, have learned to be very respectful, and aren't already moving on past high school in their heads.

I'm trying to figure out a way to get out of parenting my children when they are 12-14, much less teaching them!! It definitely takes a special kind of person to put up with such a difficult age...and in a pack!!

I was an aide for three years in two first grade classes. I actually loved that age, but of course I was only there twenty hours a week and didn't have the kind a responsibility the teachers had. I also didn't have to deal with the parents much which was by far my teachers' biggest complaints, and what really turned M. off to teaching in general. The kids themselves were, for the most part, really a joy to work with. They are still young enough to be excited about school and learning and most of them try really hard to be good and follow the rules. Being a mom of three the "gross" stuff doesn't phase M. LOL!
I also did some subbing in K to 5 and 5th grade was the worst. The kids are starting puberty, showing off, having attitude and are a lot less likely to be happy to be at school. I imagine 6th to 8th grade is more of the same, but high school might not be so bad. I know my own kids were happier in high school than they were in middle school.

Hands down, middle school. I have so many horror stories from my own kids last 2 yrs. One teacher resigned last year because of how awful the kids were to her (one example, staples in her coffee.) And she seemed like a nice enough teacher, if not a little flighty.

This year, I almost pulled my kids to homeschool (we can't afford private and really, who's to say it would be any better.) A kid in EIGHTH grade asked to go to the bathroom and when the teacher said, no, he pulled it out and peed on the floor right there in the classroom! This among other ugly stories and my son having issues w/ bullies and he's too much of a giant softy to stand up for himself. This is a 4 sport athlete who is 5' 10" and built like a train...and he lets the lil piss ant jerks push him around. :( I would NEVER work w/ big kids....the lil ones are awesome...and that's why I do daycare!

7th & 8th.

We were nightmares! One teacher I had was not well-liked. Kids in the class room would change their voices and yell out from the peanut gallery when he turned his back. He'd turn back to us with rage on his face and we'd all bust up in laughter. He also had horrible allergies and if he left the classroom for a moment, someone would get up and hit chalkboard erasers together and he'd fall into a fit of rage and coughing when he re-entered the room.

I give special kudos to teachers of middle-schoolers!

It's got to be middle school. I can't even imagine. Hormones stealing all of their brain cells (hopefully temporarily). gah!

I taught kindergarten for about 7 years and whenever I told people my job, I got one of two responses "Oh, that's so cute!" (ha!) or "You must be a saint" (I am! LOL)

BUT - whenever I talked to people who said they taught middle school, I always gave something along the lines of "You must be a saint" and then when that person found out I taught kinder, they had the same response!

I think it all depends on the person! Some people do really well teaching young children and others do really well teaching older students.

If you look at your list, all teachers have to teach kids to take tests/care about results, shy kids, loud kids, respect, etc. ALL teachers are responsible for those things, J. in different ways. I might tell you that I prefer the younger kids because they are less likely to talk back (even though they still do, it was easier for M. to reprimand a 5 year old telling M. to F*uck Off - yes it happened - than a 13 year old!).

I don't think different grade teachers should be paid differently. They all work hard in there own ways.

With all of that said, my mom taught children early childhood through adults in various types of settings and she ALWAYS said, the younger they are, they more work they are. But then when she taught alternative HS, she used a lot of the same discipline/behavior incentives she used with her little kiddos. She said it was very similar to teaching early childhood, they still had behaviors and sassy mouths, they were J. taller :-) Still needed respect, love, encouragement, and someone to believe in them :-)

Jr. high would be a nightmare. Wouldn't go there for anything!

6th Grade. Hands down.

Hormones, crying, fights, stinky kids who don't yet understand deoderant. Combine that with over-protective or non-interested parents.

I taught it for 3 years. Was so awful. I admire anyone who chooses middle school and can stick with it.

Middle school for sure.
They go in as little kids and come out on the other side of puberty.
'Nuf said.

I say second grade has been a lot harder to deal with this year than when my son was in first last year. Even one of the aids that was helping in health said that the second grade class was a lot tougher than she had thought it would be. Not J. one class J. the age in general. She said the older ones actually put in their 2 cents when in discussions and the younger ones are still trying to behave and please the teacher but 2nd graders are J. crazy. :) She said she loves them (she also has a son, one of my sons best buds) but they are hard.

Grades 7 and 8 are the most difficult !

Everything you described in 1st grade happens in middle school. I teach 8th and love it! Especially because today was the last day of school :0)!

I have been teaching about 12 yrs. I only do K-5 at our elementary school.

By grade 4 they start getting stinky and some attitudes come into play.

Personally, I spend most of my time in grades 1-3 with grade 1 being my favorite. I J. love this age group, so eager to learn, eager to do great work, etc. J. today we had a cookie exchange and they had do much fun with exchanging their cookies and all the cookie stories and math problems we've had this week!

You couldn't pay M. enough for middle and high schools. The middle schools seem to have the hardest around here with adjustments emotionally, etc.

My daughter has teachers at the sr high level and they say they would never teach elementary. I guess it J. depends on the teacher!

I hope your daughter had a great 1st grade year!

I would have to say middle school. The hormones kick in and they are all C-R-A-Z-Y!

I think there is a reason kindergarten is only half day (at least here). when I saw what my oldest daughters kindergarten teacher had to deal with I wanted to worship that woman. And she was so kind and wonderful. Whenever I worked in her class for a few hours I was exhausted! I have no idea how she did it. I made her a rag quilt at the end of the year I was so grateful for her.

It has to be 7&8 grades. Kids, at that age, are difficult. The little ones are a joy to teach. I was a teacher for 1-4 grades and I liked it. If I had to change my job now, I would go back to teaching the little ones.