elementary school or middle school?

[marathoner452]

Elementary education...or middle school social studies?  I have until I call UNO to set up a registering-for-classes appointment and until I take the PRAXIS II on April 28th to decide.

Elementary is 1-5 grades, and middle school is 4-8 grades, so either way I could teach upper elementary.  The difference is that if I did elementary school I'd be teaching a little of everything, especially in the younger grades, and with a middle school certification I'd teach social studies.  History, government, you know, what I've loved since I was about 10 years old.  Teaching math is difficult for me because I never really understood why, just how.   With history...well, I've been out of college for 2 years and I still read history books for fun.  I took an upper-level history class my first semester of college and aced it.  I wrote a 56-page senior thesis about comparative slavery and emancipation in Maryland and Key West.  One of my life goals is to visit a home for every president (Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Wilson, and Eisenhower so far-it pays to live on the East Coast).  I memorized the preamble to the Constitution 13 years ago and I can still recite it verbatim.

Am I just trying to get away from second graders because for the last 3 days I've worked with a few choice students of that age who drove me crazy?  It's a wonder we got anything done yesterday, and having my own class would be much different from being a substitute.  I know that.

Or maybe I'm inspired by reading The Freedom Writer's Diary, and I want to believe that by teaching the past I can change the future.  If we don't learn where we came from, then we are condemned to repeat it.

EDIT:  Actually, strike Wilson from the completed list and stick in Truman.  I went on a private tour of "Truman's Little White House" in Key West, arranged by my South Florida History professor.  Which reminds me, I need to get to DC sometime in the near future to visit Wilson's house/museum, and by near future I mean before I head off to New Orleans.  And FDR's mansion is practically within walking distance of where my sister goes to school.  But I digress.

EDIT 2:  Clearly, with an edit like that, I've already made my decision.  Now all I have to do is cough up $40 to switch PRAXIS tests.

Comments

[black-op.livejournal.com]

"I memorized the preamble to the Constitution 13 years ago and I can still recite it verbatim."

Are you willing to be cloned? Seriously. The last 7 years are evidence enough that our entire country needs an upgrade in its education on history, politics, constitutional law, etc.

Do what will make you feel happy and successful, by all means... but if either option could do that for you please help produce politicaly aware and active (and responsible) individuals at the rate of 100+ a year.
My $ 0.02
God bless you.

[dlightful.livejournal.com]

sounds to me like you've really got a passion for the social studies subjects, and that's something you can't fake in a classroom.

also, little kids are too needy and cry a lot.

[meeshabpuck.livejournal.com]

middle school. fourth and fifth graders are fun. little ones are too needy and avoid the actual middle grades at all cost (sixth grade, maybe, but eighth is hell)

[bohemiangel.livejournal.com]

well, being a secondary History teacher you can probably guess what I'm going to say. :)

I think you have to go with your passion. I don't need to tell you how tough the job can be so you need have something that's going to keep you fired up through all the extraneous crap that comes with teaching.

I personally think nothing beats that buzz when the kids grasp on to something you're passionate about.

[yukonsally]

It seems you've already made your decision.

[quick-step.livejournal.com]

To me, getting up in front of a group of kids probably would be daunting. Eighth graders? ::shudder::

I guess the approach with younger kids would be very different than that of older kids. Never thought about it much before your post.

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

In general, younger kids are more needy, older kids have more of an attitude. I've enjoyed 4th-5th grade the most so far. By the time they get to that point they don't ask to go to the nurse for a hangnail. They don't rely on routine to get them through the day.

[roadwarrior220.livejournal.com]

A quote for you:

Those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it.
-George Santayana, historian

And its partner:

I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time. I think I've forgotten this before.
-Steven Wright, comedian

I agree with your last line. And I think you'll succeed at helping younger people learn how NOT to repeat the mistakes of the past.

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

That's the quote I was going for, and it's so true.

I am convinced that most people who think history is boring have just never had the right teacher, haven't learned history outside of names and dates. History is the lives of ordinary and extraordinary people, and we are making history right now. Two things: passive voice and Mardi Gras. My advisor taught me never to use passive voice; things don't happen to people, people do things. We take an active role in the life we create even if we don't always have control over what happens. The reason I had so much fun on Mardi Gras was the reason I love New Orleans: I didn't just watch the parade, I was in the parade. I wasn't just watching life go by, I was a part of it. Now THAT is living.

Teaching history in a city so chock full of life and history, hurricanes notwithstanding, is where I want to be. I just hope I can handle it.

[roadwarrior220.livejournal.com]

Cardinal rule of writing #6: the passive voice is your enemy. And it applies to life, too. :-)

Like I said last fall, history is just our story, and you'll do a great job telling our story to people who don't know it. And along the way, you'll teach them some lessons too. :-) Not every story has a lesson to teach, but the majority of our mistakes in life have a lesson attached, or at least riding shotgun.