Teaching Across Ages: Get Off the Fence and Discover Your Ideal Classroom Fit! (PART1)

If you are here eagerly seeking a quick answer to the question, “which age group is easier to teach?” I hate to be a bearer of bad news, but that riddle remains unsolved!

By and large, people in this field suggest it’s all about your personality and perspective.

No arguments there.

But fear not, for I invite you to set off a journey with me to weigh the benefits and challenges of different age groups. Because there would be no ‘Best Age Group ‘awards. I'll be sharing my experiences and as this will be quite long, I'll break them down into different separate parts.

Let's start by highlighting three rewarding aspects of teaching kids (IMHO)today.

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Imagine stepping into a room full of children. Laughter fills the air, mixing with the sounds of play and occasional tears. Some kids are happily running around, while others seem upset. But among all the emotions, you feel the lively energy of the room. This is the world of young learners, where each child is a unique story waiting to be heard. For an English teacher engaging with these curious minds, every interaction becomes an opportunity to shape their thinking and nurture a passion for language learning. Along this adventure, much like any other, there are both rewards and obstacles.

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1. Creativity

Let me transport you back to one of my fond memories from about six or seven years ago, when I was teaching a group of young beginners. The institute had assigned us a storybook to work on. No matter how hard I tried to ignite enthusiasm for the text, I noticed a lack of interest from the students; they always seemed to dislike making sentences with the story's words. After a couple of sessions, I had an idea: why not let them unleash their imaginations and write their own stories? So, I took some important words from the story and divided them among four or five groups of four students each. The challenge was to create a brand new tale using those words, with the promise that the group with the best story would have it proudly displayed on the wall, complete with an illustration by me. After nearly half an hour, each group presented their short story, and I must say, they were all amazing. However, I made the final call and fairly chose the story with the most correct grammar and spelling. In the following session, the story with an illustration was on the wall as a poster. Seeing the excitement in their eyes was priceless. They also praised me for my painting skills. The whole process was rewarding for me, and I had a blast along the way. Though, I haven't done the same in other classes because each one is unique, I recently, tried something new with AI. My students described something, and the AI created a photo in minutes, and we all had a good laugh about it.?

Albert Einstein once said, " Creativity is intelligence having fun."

I must admit, teaching naturally sparks creativity, but when it comes to working with kids, it takes things to a whole new level. Think of your mind as a garden, where you can cultivate the blossoms of innovative ideas rather than allowing the weeds of worries and negativity to take root. Creativity serves as a remedy for agitation, allowing you to turn your energy into something positive. Personally, as a teacher who struggles with anxiety before each class, I've learned that creating interesting and engaging lessons is key. When we are in a state of enjoyment and ease, our minds are free to come up with new ideas without any fear holding us back.

Additionally, children's openness and flexibility empower us to make lessons captivating and more engaging. By setting the stage with creativity, students feel more comfortable expressing themselves and trusting us with their ideas. This, in turn, boosts their self-esteem and confidence.

2. Nostalgia

I recall vividly the joy of glory days of? " Barney & Friends" a famous TV show with a giant purple dinosaur, when I was younger. So I thought why not bringing some of that magic into my classroom?. First, it seemed strange and outdated to my students. I failed to get their attention. But I didn't give up. Once we started singing along to Barney's songs I could see a remarkable shift in their enthusiasm.

I've shared a link of one of the Barney songs to give you a taste of his magic with kids (click on the photo). With its catchy tunes and easy-to-follow lyrics filled with animal names, teaching with Barney's songs is pure joy. Whenever I played it, both the kids and I had a great time, full of energy and happiness.

If you hold dear memories? of learning English and yearn for? those days gone by, teaching kids can transport you back in time, just like a Time Machine that revives your inner child and allows you to relive those cherished moments through your students. Drawing from personal experience and tapping into nostalgia not only injects excitement into lessons but also gives you a boost of? energy and happiness.

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3. Witnessing their growth

I recently heard from one of my old students, whom I taught when he was 11 and is now 17. He sent me a lovely message, flattering me with kind words (BTW, he's from one of the best classes I've ever had—I'll tell you all about it someday). He also shared his plans for the future, which made me really happy.

I'm sharing this to remind you that sometimes, out of the blue, when you least expect it and when there are moments of feeling down, someone may appear and express appreciation for the work you did years ago. You might not even realize how impactful your role was. This has happened to me many times with people of different ages, and each time, I was over the moon. However, with kids, it's a whole different story. They're like pure souls, who never forget the special memories you create for them. The feeling of reward and fulfillment that comes from that is truly indescribable

Teaching kids is like a two-way street; you're not just their teacher, you're also their student. You watch them grow and realize the impact you have on their lives. It's a mutual growth, like looking into a mirror and seeing a reflection of yourself in them.

It's a privilege to be their teacher because the influence you leave is profound. But it's not all blue sky; you also have to be mindful of potential negative effects. Every word you say and activity you do matters.

?Watching those little humans grow is incredibly rewarding. Knowing that you've played a part in shaping their future, not just academically, but also in terms of their character and confidence, is truly fulfilling.

Summary

I discussed a few rewarding aspects of teaching children. However, there are undoubtedly more to explore.

?? I invite you to share your thoughts in the comments:

• your own perspectives and experiences on these topics.
• the challenges of teaching children (upcoming article)