1 answer
Jo
Student
Bedford, Texas
1
Question
Updated
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Can I be a good teacher as an introvert? #Fall2025
I know this might sound a bit silly, but I am not very much of a morning person and am very much an introvert. I would love to be an elementary school teacher (I love working with kids), but I am worried that I will not be very good since I tend to not be super outgoing. Are there any introverted teachers out there who can help alleviate my worries and give some tips?
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1 answer
Jerry Tingstad
Professor/middle school teacher/48 years
161
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Jerry’s Answer
First, not many introverts love working with kids. So perhaps you should reexamine your thoughts about yourself.
And you're not a morning person. Join the crowd. At the college level I managed to find a professor who hated afternoon and night classes, so I did those and he took the morning classes.
But teaching middle school, the schedule is the schedule. So, I would go into an 8:00 class and complain (moan) about having a class in the middle of the night. I found that there are a surprising number of students who feel the same way. With that connection, off we went and had good classes. In my opinion having a teacher and students on the same wave length is helpful.
Elementary?, same, I think, at least from knowing elementary students and off they go.
Have you talked to teachers about this? Students?
And the fact that you are concerned with this situation tells me that introvert or not, you have the capacity to overcome it.
And you're not a morning person. Join the crowd. At the college level I managed to find a professor who hated afternoon and night classes, so I did those and he took the morning classes.
But teaching middle school, the schedule is the schedule. So, I would go into an 8:00 class and complain (moan) about having a class in the middle of the night. I found that there are a surprising number of students who feel the same way. With that connection, off we went and had good classes. In my opinion having a teacher and students on the same wave length is helpful.
Elementary?, same, I think, at least from knowing elementary students and off they go.
Have you talked to teachers about this? Students?
And the fact that you are concerned with this situation tells me that introvert or not, you have the capacity to overcome it.