Never is too late, I guess?

Wow, it's Sunday already!

This has been the final week of my substitute teaching at this school.

It's such a shame I managed to dig out a few amazing articles, along with some useful pieces of advice just this week.

Still, never is too late. Right?

Actually, now that I have the experience and have read something on the topic, I'm ready to move on. I've just realized that I'm no longer a complete novice at this profession. I have gained some incredibly invaluable experience through hard work and practice. At the same time, I've come to realize how we have so much to more to learn and work toward after we graduate. The moment we get the degree, it's only the beginning of the whole thing...

And when it comes to the experience I've gained here, I know there have been many great classes, and not so great classes here and there. There were days when I was brilliant, and others when I would simply wait for the classes to end and go home, and sleep... There were some sleepless nights, dilemmas, worries. But most days I truly felt great about what I do.

From what I've been through, I now see that being a public school teacher is extremely demanding and highly rewarding profession. A dream job most days, and a living torture sometimes.

When it comes to the age group I've been teaching (first- to fourth-graders), I've come to realize that it's not that hard to teach this age group (in terms of knowledge and curricula), but it's hard to keep them interested, concentrated and focused, amused and engaged. They have hard time staying focused, and get easily distracted. Sometimes you feel like a clown or an entertainer, and it's a part of the job description, no doubt.

For me, it is a bit tricky that I have had very little contact with young children. Only now have I actually got to know how they think and what they are like, and I'm truly thankful for that.

I must say most of the children are not that difficult to work with. Some are quite specific and at times even annoying, but the majority of them are simply adorable.

I know I'm going to miss the children, and think about them from time to time. I guess that's normal.

I hope I've contributed at least a bit to the children's love for English and that they have more will to learn it.

You know how people usually say, children get to love the school subject if they like the teacher.
By the way, do you think this is true?

...

Instead of going on about my teaching practice and how I feel right now, I'm sharing these great links I've been recommended in a Facebook group, by a university professor (and a methodologists of teaching English to young learners) at the Faculty of Teachers' Education in Jagodina.

• Crazy Animals And Other Activities for Teaching English to Young Learners

• Ten Helpful Ideas for Teaching English to Young Learners

• The challenge of teaching children

Have a lovely Sunday; and enjoy the lovely spring weather.
Oh, and don't forget to set your clocks and watches forward one hour ahead!

And one more thing, did you happen to read something on the topic, and what do you think about these links?

It ain't easy being a novice

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So far, this has been a really busy week. So many obligations at work, and with the exam period at my Masters studies approaching, it's starting to be extremely demanding.

Not to mention that as a complete novice, it takes quite a lot time to prepare for each and every class.
Oh, and there is also a problem with a mild epidemic of cold, or flu: each day a number of children misses a class, and it's really hard to catch up with this. (Or it's just me?)
...
I don't know how things are at your school, but I've noticed that children are much easier to work with when we are in the morning shift. That's what I've been told. My colleagues at work, their teachers, told me that right at the beginning. And when we're in the afternoon shift, children tend to be much more lively, and sometimes almost unbearable.
...
Tell me, how do you cope with such problems at work?
Is it just me, a fairly inexperienced novice, or is teaching really a highly demanding profession?

Still, most of the time I enjoy working as an elementary school teacher, while a few times it feels like the worst job on the planet.

However, for me, things are going to change soon. Namely, I'm working at this school until March 23, because the teacher I have been substituting is about to end her maternity leave.
And one thing is certain: that's going to be a huge change. I'm going to miss the children.
When I think about it, I'm already a bit sad....

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Classroom management - discipline

I know my weak points. The way I see it, for me, one of them is classroom discipline.
I am not a strict person. I smile a lot, and am very mild, friendly and relaxed most of the time.
However, is it really a good thing to be like that in classroom?
Maybe I should be more strict?
Do you have some useful suggestions regarding teacher's classroom behavior?
I'm open for a discussion and taking advice.

Post: Classsroom management
Re: Classsroom management

7 Best Classroom Management Tips by Ian Leahy

So far I have found these interesting link. I hope it will be useful both to me and to all of you out there.
In the meantime, I'm going to try to be more strict and find more real-life tips and pieces of advice on the Internet...