Has your child ever had a male teacher in elementary school?

[pirateofthecarolinas]

My DS has his first male teacher in 5th grade this year. He is so excited about school. Yesterday was his 1st day and he said that his teacher was AWESOME. I guess I never realized how important it is to get more male teachers in elementary classrooms. When I taught there were only 3 in our building.

Has your child ever had a male teacher in the early years? How did it go?

Lori

 

[NMAmy]

DD did for 4th and 5th grade. They were both great teachers and she really enjoyed being in their class.

 

[4greatboys]

Yes, my oldest sons 3rd grade teacher was a male. We loved him. He was so great with the kids. He was young, looked right out of college and has such a great connection with the kids.
One time he pulled me in the class room to show me my sons TAAS test that my son had rec'd academic recognition on both sections--meaning he had scored in the very top percent of the state. His teacher was as excited about it as I was. I so miss that guy and having more teachers like that.
Sadly he had to quite teaching a get a better paying job so he and his wife could start a family with her staying at home.
We ran into them at the hospital when ds #3 was born, they were there too having a son 2 days after ours was born.

 

[cl1067]

My dd is in 4th grade this year and has a male teacher for the first time. School just started on Wednesday and she was really nervous about having a male teacher, but after the first two days she has decided she really likes him. I hope it stays this way through out the year.

 

[motherhen17404]

My DS had a male teacher for 5th grade. It was one of his best years in elementary school. I used to work in the school system and there was a male kindergarten teacher that everyone wanted their child to get. He was the best teacher I have ever met. I just wish more men would chose elementary school to teach in.

 

[TEENEE]

My dd had a male teacher in 3rd grade and has a male teacher this year (5th grade). The 3rd grade teacher wasn't very good. The fact that he was male had nothing to do with my opinion of him as a teacher. He was just to easy going and the kids walked all over him.

The teacher she has this year is a first year teacher. We went to open house Tuesday and really liked what we heard. He has some fresh ideas on teaching and seems to have control over his class. I'm hoping we have a great 5th grade year.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

DD and DS both had (different) male teachers for second grade. Both were highly recommended, although I didn't specifically request either. For DS, in particular, it went fabulous. DD seems to do well no matter what--she liked hers fine, he was good, etc. But the change in DS was astounding--he was coming off a bad first grade teacher, has a ton of social/emotional issues. I communicated with his teacher quite a bit at first, but it tapered as DS was clearly doing wonderful. He just seemed like a really fun teacher, good at getting the kids to listen and learn without resorting to punishment. I can't say enough good things about him. DS starts third in 2 weeks, and is actually admitting to being psyched to go back to school! How many 8yo boys do that?!?

BTW, my opinion is, men who choose to teach at the elementary level really want to be there--it can't be the money! So they tend to be really dedicated. Woman teachers are more likely (not meaning any offense, just what I've seen personally) to consider it just a job, or something that works well with their kids schedules.

 

[MosMom]

My DD has not yet but I did in 5th grade and he was one of the best teachers I ever had. He was in theatre so he would often take us to plays and productions. He played all sorts of instruments and would give us musical spelling tests with a guitar or an accordian. He had all sorts of animals in his room and his girlfriend was a vet so we went on a field trip to her office once.

I remember he once said he was having to make an appointment at her office and I said "Oh, are you not feeling well". I made bad jokes even in the 5th grade apparently. Well, anyhoo (I put that in there just for you people that hate anyhoo), I had to stay after school for that little comment and instead of just sitting there...he taught me how to play chess during that time.

Lots of good memories from that class and even though many other grades blur into one big lump, I remember so much I learned in that class.

 

[Brianne]

My 5th grader has a male teacher this year straight out of college. Really nice guy, and seems very enthusiastic, not to mention extremely open to communication from the parents. So far so good...my 3rd grader now wants him for her teacher for 5th grade.

 

[Crankyshank]

I had 2 male teachers. One was a lay teacher in 8th grade and was dismissed for being an incompetent perv, the other was a Jesuit brother in the 7th grade.

 

[minkydog]

Oh, I have to tell you about Mr. Tom.

Mr. Tom came into our lives the 2 years ago. My youngest son attends public school in a class for kids with severe/profound mental retardation. The teacher just walked out and disappeared 6 days into school and there was no replacement. The principal was frantic. She called her good friend Tom who agreed to "step in" for a few days until a permanent teacher could be found.

You need to know that Tom is not a teacher,he was a semi-retired businessman. However he took his "job" seriously. At once he began to organize himself, calling on the lunch ladies, bus drivers, parapros, and parents to learn about each of the 4 kids in his class. He introduced color, light, & sound into the classroom.Within 2 days,he was hooked--even the other special ed teachers were begging the principal to keep him!

That year Tom took my son Christian to new heights. He figured out how to "bring him out" when Christian would withdraw. He figured out how to break things into tiny steps so Christian could finally be successful. He discovered my son loved music and used it to encourage & reward him. By the end of that year, he had Christian using a computer for entertainment, feeding himself with a spoon, and going to the bathroom at his own request! I nominated Tom for Teacher of the Year because of the improvements he made in my son's education--he won!!

The rest of the story gets better--Mr. Tom stepped aside last year for a new, "real" teacher, but he asked to stay on. He has single-mindedly worked with Christian and now my son is 100% bowel trained--at 10yo Mr. Tom "woke him up" and brought forth his wonderful, lively personality. He knows my son through & through and is quite devoted to him, and all the other kids too. He has determined he will stay until Christian moves on to middle school. He absolutely loves my son and Christian adores Mr. Tom.

Mr. Tom believed that there was more to my son than anyone else ever did(except me, maybe. ) I will always be grateful that a businessman with extra time on his hands wasn't "too busy" to change a diaper, go for a walk, wipe up spills, and read a book to a challenged but lovely child. He has made all the difference in our lives.

 

[CamColt]

My DSs' elementary school doesnt have any male teachers with classrooms, however the principal, gym teacher, health teacher, and psycologist who meets with them regularly, are all men.

 

[aprincessmom]

In our school system we have many, many male teachers in the elementary schools and the kids love them! DD had some males in daycare -- including one head teacher who had developed a chain of daycares in Nigeria where he came from -- and all the kids really loved having them around. I think it brings a nice balance for everyone.

 

[LisaNJ25]

My DS has his first male teacher in 5th grade this year. He is so excited about school. Yesterday was his 1st day and he said that his teacher was AWESOME. I guess I never realized how important it is to get more male teachers in elementary classrooms. When I taught there were only 3 in our building.

Has your child ever had a male teacher in the early years? How did it go?

Lori

Yes, my son had a male teacher in Kindergarten and 6th grade. They were both wonderful teachers.

 

[Aneille]

Oh, I have to tell you about Mr. Tom.

Mr. Tom came into our lives the 2 years ago. My youngest son attends public school in a class for kids with severe/profound mental retardation. The teacher just walked out and disappeared 6 days into school and there was no replacement. The principal was frantic. She called her good friend Tom who agreed to "step in" for a few days until a permanent teacher could be found.

You need to know that Tom is not a teacher,he was a semi-retired businessman. However he took his "job" seriously. At once he began to organize himself, calling on the lunch ladies, bus drivers, parapros, and parents to learn about each of the 4 kids in his class. He introduced color, light, & sound into the classroom.Within 2 days,he was hooked--even the other special ed teachers were begging the principal to keep him!

That year Tom took my son Christian to new heights. He figured out how to "bring him out" when Christian would withdraw. He figured out how to break things into tiny steps so Christian could finally be successful. He discovered my son loved music and used it to encourage & reward him. By the end of that year, he had Christian using a computer for entertainment, feeding himself with a spoon, and going to the bathroom at his own request! I nominated Tom for Teacher of the Year because of the improvements he made in my son's education--he won!!

The rest of the story gets better--Mr. Tom stepped aside last year for a new, "real" teacher, but he asked to stay on. He has single-mindedly worked with Christian and now my son is 100% bowel trained--at 10yo Mr. Tom "woke him up" and brought forth his wonderful, lively personality. He knows my son through & through and is quite devoted to him, and all the other kids too. He has determined he will stay until Christian moves on to middle school. He absolutely loves my son and Christian adores Mr. Tom.

Mr. Tom believed that there was more to my son than anyone else ever did(except me, maybe. ) I will always be grateful that a businessman with extra time on his hands wasn't "too busy" to change a diaper, go for a walk, wipe up spills, and read a book to a challenged but lovely child. He has made all the difference in our lives.

Thats such a heartwarming story thanks for sharing it. It takes a special person I think to teach children especially children that have extra needs that go beyond simply teaching them abc's and numbers. And for someone with no training to come in and accept a position like that nevermind excel in it truly is unique and special.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Minkydog, what a lovely story! Mr. Tom sounds like a prince.

My DS had a male teacher in 2nd grade and a male PE teacher for a few years. I think it's sad that more kids don't have a chance to have a man teach them. I've found that many young people are afraid to have a man as a teacher and it's nice to get rid of that fear at a young age (if the teacher is good, that is).

My daughter was nervous about male teachers until she got to 6th grade. She fell in love with her science teacher and went back to see him frequently the whole time she was in middle school. He was crazy about teaching and about his students. In fact, he always tells his students not to buy him gifts. But if they insist on giving him something, he asks that they please give him a picture. He doesn't have a family , so he decorates his room with pictures of his students. Kind of cool. He told me it reminds him of all the student's lives he has touched.

I had a male teacher in 6th grade. Some of my best memories of that year are from his class. He was so funny and we learned a lot.

I think the reason that we don't see more men teaching in elementary school is the pay. It's just so hard to support a family on a teacher's salary. And we have a bias in our country. Men aren't supposed to be elementary teachers or nurses. Silly. I've even heard people say that if a male teaches elementary he must be a pervert. Why? Many men are daddies. They deal with young children and it doesn't mean they are perverted.

 

[dcgrumpy]

My children aren't in school yet, but i had a male teacher in both 5th and 6th grade

 

[minkydog]

I think the reason that we don't see more men teaching in elementary school is the pay. It's just so hard to support a family on a teacher's salary. And we have a bias in our country. Men aren't supposed to be elementary teachers or nurses. Silly. I've even heard people say that if a male teaches elementary he must be a pervert. Why? Many men are daddies. They deal with young children and it doesn't mean they are perverted.

I quite agree. My DD12 has her first male teacher this year, Mr. Mindi, who teaches language arts. She was nervous at first, but now she just loves this teacher. In fact, she is making As in his class because she is really motivated.

 

[Deb in IA]

I had a male teacher in 4th grade. We were in a 4th/6th grade split class, and Mr. K was WONDERFUL!!! By far and away, the best teacher I had in elementary school. I still remember the things he taught, and I credit him with my lifelong interest in science. He told us at the beginning of the year that we would be able to "trace a drop of blood through the entire circulation of our body" and he employed unconventional methods and materials (well, unconventional for the late 60's!), such as teaching poetry using the lyrics of Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water.


Our son had a male teacher for first grade, Mr. V. He was also excellent, particularly for some of the more rambuctious students, as I think the students obeyed him better than some of the female teachers.

 

[Galahad]

Neither of our son's had male elementary teachers. My 5th grade teacher was male and that was in the mid-60's. He was good, but I don't remember him has my "best" teacher. That would have been my 4th grade teacher (she was really cute ).