Grade 1 is great

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Grade 1 is great
By Cathy-Dee

I've taught now for 9 years, I've taught K, a 2/3 split and grade 1.

I would choose Grade 1 over K or a early childhood class for a number of reasons.

- the children are at a stage where they can stay settled down for
longer periods of time
- you have a curriculum to work from
- often you have less of the parties, crafts, graduations, parent meetings, etc., that seem to come with K and early childhood classes.

I find September and into October the hardest months. This is when you tend to still have some of the crying, very dependent children, a lot of prep work, etc., But from about mid-October

on you'll notice a change in the kids and it continues all year long. Think about your grade 2's when they begin in the fall and that's what a grade 1 class is like often by April and May.

A lot of the basic things you teach in grade 2 are still part of grade 1 (phonics, addition, subtraction, writing, reading, etc.,) Most of your materials, resources are easily used in grade 1 especially with some of those children who will be stronger students.

And I think a full-time position is better if you prefer working full-time over part-time.

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