Pet peeves in the classroom (school, grade, course, teachers)

[Raven1976]

I teach preschool and my classroom is small. My biggest pet peeve is when the kids sit right on the edge of their chair and are so far away from the table, especially for lunch and there is no room to walk around them. Then they spill their food on their laps. I have to constantly tell them to please move their seats in so that they are closer.

My other pet peeve is children to can't sit for more than 5 seconds without fidgeting around with their shoes.


What are your pet peeves in the classroom?

[mackinac81]

My top two

1. When kids talk while I'm giving instructions

2. That one kid who has to tap his pencil when everyone else is working quietly

All in all, I love working in schools though. Kids are great.

[5kingsinvegas]

My pet peeves:

* Parent's who write excuses for their child not having homework completed

* Children who make annoying faces and noises while raising their hands

* Children who constantly have to use the restroom after just returning from recess

* Children who argue with you

* Children who are bullies to other children

* Children who go home and tell their parents slanted versions of what goes on in the classroom and the parents who believe them

* Children who disrupt the class, don't do any work and come to me 2 weeks before report cards wanting extra credit to bring up their grade

[TouchOfWhimsy]

Originally Posted by Raven1976

I teach preschool and my classroom is small. My biggest pet peeve is when the kids sit right on the edge of their chair and are so far away from the table, especially for lunch and there is no room to walk around them. Then they spill their food on their laps. I have to constantly tell them to please move their seats in so that they are closer.

My other pet peeve is children to can't sit for more than 5 seconds without fidgeting around with their shoes.


What are your pet peeves in the classroom?

You do realize this is all very normal stuff for children who are barely out of diapers, right?

[5kingsinvegas]

Originally Posted by beanandpumpkin

You do realize this is all very normal stuff for children who are barely out of diapers, right?

I really think the OP was just wanting to vent. I realize that all the things I listed are normal also. Doesn't mean they don't drive me crazy sometimes though!!!

[raising3boys]

Maybe it is just me, but as an educator I would try to vent on a more appropriate forum. There are so many that are just for teachers. As a teacher, we are already under scrutiny over every little thing we say. Its just so many teachers get a bad rap.

[5kingsinvegas]

Originally Posted by raising3boys

Maybe it is just me, but as an educator I would try to vent on a more appropriate forum. There are so many that are just for teachers. As a teacher, we are already under scrutiny over every little thing we say. Its just so many teachers get a bad rap.

You are entitled to your opinion, of course. But really, are you serious???

[Raven1976]

Originally Posted by beanandpumpkin

You do realize this is all very normal stuff for children who are barely out of diapers, right?

What do diapers have to do with sitting in a chair? Most of them are already 4 years old and have been out of diapers for a while.

[TouchOfWhimsy]

Not that diapers have to do with sitting in a chair, I was just pointing out that children in preschool (who range from 2 1/2 to 5) may have been considered "babies" only a few short months ago. My point was that the attention span of a 4 year old is about 5-10 minutes, tops. If this is just a vent, then fine, I guess... but as an early childhood educator, I would hope that you are not letting the kids see that you are frustrated with their entirely normal childish behavior.

[Sam82]

I think the op's frustration comes from having to repeat youself so much while teaching young children. It is now December, so I'm assuming she has been with her students for at least 4 months. However, they still have to be told to push in their seats. I can see how that is frustrating. The children should know what to do when eating by now.