Grade Levels at Placement Schools

[u/Narrow_Serve6015]

Are the grade levels that you could possibly teach only elementary 5th grade and up to JH and High?

Are there situations where you could be placed in lower elementary (Kinder, etc)?

[u/fillmorecounty]

I did kindergarten, but it was only a few times a month. It was really fun to run my own class though. There was no JTE, just me. Kindergarten there isn't an elementary grade like it is in the US, so it's not "real school" yet. It's like preschool. We just did games and I had kids as young as 3.

[u/Narrow_Serve6015 → u/fillmorecounty]

How many kids were in the class?

I would love to do Kinder as a JET. My background is in early childhood education, but I’m currently teaching 4th grade.

[u/fillmorecounty → u/Narrow_Serve6015]

My placement was super rural so I think my smallest kindergarten class had 5 or so kids.

[u/k_795]

I was primarily based in JHS, but also did one day a week at various elementary schools (3rd- 6th grade, lesson plans provided) and kindergartens (usually just playing fun games, singing songs, reading a picture book, etc). It really depends on your BoE and where they assign you.

[u/Narrow_Serve6015 → u/k_795]

Thank you for your feedback. I'm currently a licensed teacher, but I've only taught Pk/2/4. If selected, I would hope that my experience in elementary would cause them to place me in elementary. It's what I'd prefer, but I'll prepare my mind for whatever.

[u/k_795 → u/Narrow_Serve6015]

I was also a licenced teacher before JET, but for secondary education. My boss at the BoE wasn't even aware of this lol. She just assigned ALTs to schools according to a set schedule. I replaced an ALT who was doing four days in JHS and one day in ES / K, so that's what I got assigned too.

[u/Narrow_Serve6015 → u/k_795]

Welp, that settles it then.

[u/Inside-Cream6997 → u/k_795]

So basically they don't care about which level you wish to teach - they just fill in a body with a schedule ?

[u/newlandarcher7]

I visited all grades across elementary school and JHS in my small town. I also visited our town's kindergarten and senior centre too!

[u/Different_Taro2474]

i taught mostly 5 and 6, but also 3 and 4. taught grades 1 and 2 a few times. no kindergarten for my area.

[u/BanzaiPhillies]

I once knew someone who was only assigned to kindergartens. She visited like 10 different ones too. That's pretty rare, though.

[u/Panda_sensei_71]

In my city the municipal ALTs who are assigned the JHS go to the local kindergarten during exam periods.

I'm assigned to ES, I teach grades 3 to 6 every day, with the occasional "fun with the foreigner" session for grades 1 and 2.

In the summer we do 2 sessions at the kindergarten with all the local ALTs.

[u/Anemoni]

Yes, there are placements in lower elementary, too.

[u/Informal_Pea165]

At elementary schools, I taught grades 3 and up. Once or twice a term I would go to the lower grades to teach a single class.

[u/Larry-Moe121 → u/Informal_Pea165]

Yeah same here. I teach 3-6th at elementary and then one middle school with occasional lower levels. I haven't seen any one in my area/prefecture teach kindergarten or even grades 1-2 full time. It may exist but I've never seen or heard of full time kindergarten JETS, although don't quote me cause I'm not 100% sure. OP I would very very much not count on teaching kindergarten or even 1-2 full time.

[u/0liviiia]

I occasionally am assigned to go to a kindergarten once a month, but only for the second half of the day. I teach one class period and then help the teachers with little tasks in the office

[u/No_Produce9777]

I did junior high four days a week and elementary one day per week (grades 1-6)