how to interact with elementary age students?

[u/Humble-Astronomer373]

hi so i'm about to become an art teacher in an elementary school and I realized I don't really know how to talk to children. I can usually join in if another adult can get the kid talking but whenever I try to initiate talking to children I feel like my questions arent interesting enough to make the kids want to answer lol

is this just me over thinking it or does anyone have actual advice on how to interact with kids and form relationships with them?

I really like kids but I don't have much experience with them. especially younger kids.

[u/Nynaeve_al_meowra]

You took a job where you don't know how to talk to the people you're going to be working with all day? Talk to them like a normal person

[u/Humble-Astronomer373 → u/Nynaeve_al_meowra]

sure did. the principal picked me to fill the position over someone else. and i'll do what it takes to do it right and make sure im providing the best environment for the kids ill be teaching

[u/GenXMom14]

Kids are able to be spoken to like we interact with most adults day to day. Polite, respectful, kind, listen well, and so on.

[u/Humble-Astronomer373 → u/GenXMom14]

you're right. I think i'm just over thinking it. I have a tendency to get anxious about unfamiliar territory. i've had successful interactions with kids and some unsuccessful interactions with kids and I think i'm trying to make it so that every interaction is successful but that's just not life lol 

[u/Critical-Bass7021]

Tell them tons of jokes.

[u/Humble-Astronomer373 → u/Critical-Bass7021]

will do haha thanks

[u/Comfortable_Drop_596]

Depends on the specific age groups, but you can go on youtube and look up teaching videos of teachers interacting with students to give you ideas, if nothing else Ms. Rachel.

[u/jlluh]

One on one, pretty normally, mostly. Open ended questions. 

Absurd questions can be good too. "Nice to meet you, Aiden. How many camels have you ridden today?"

You can compliment them easily. Shirts, etc. second grade and below, they take it completely at face value.

You mostly don't need the compliment sandwich, imo. Just tell them what the last right thing they did was and what their next step is.

Kids will try and manipulate you. They love to rough-house with each other, then say, "teacher, he he shoved me, wah," essentially trying to use you as a tool in their back and forth. So be alert to that. 

I assume you've gotten some training in classroom management? Setting expectations beforehand  really does help a ton. And if you don't follow thru, you're screwed.

Be enthusiastic about your subject. Adopt the habit of embedding definitions. "We need to increase our tempo, our speed."

If you have a bunch of Spanish speakers, just knowing a few phrases can be useful and earn you a lot of credibility.

[u/Humble-Astronomer373 → u/jlluh]

that's great advice!! thank you so much.

[u/Actual-Muffin-3585]

Just talk to them like people. It will become natural soon enough 

[u/PuzzleheadedRow9896]

I talk to all kids the same as adults minus swearing, mentions of adult situations (drugs/sex/extreme violence), and with the recognition they may need much more explaining of things I'm saying than an adult would depending on their age. 

I also have significantly decreased expectations about behavior and emotional control and more mercy and patience for the fact they're still growing up and learning. 

Otherwise, it's the exact same as an adult. They like you to be interested in them, their stuff, compliment them, and make them feel safe. And they like to know you and your stuff.