My daughter is starting 1st grade on July 31st and her teacher is male. I am so happy she is having a male teacher at since a young age because her dad is not in her life at all, so I think it will benefit her greatly to have a male figure there for her when I cannot be there.

Male elementary teachers are rock stars!

The relationship a teacher has with his/her students have more influence on student learning than a pretty decorated classroom. Great points Mr. Thain!

A former student, now a dear friend, is a 4th grade teacher and I couldn't be prouder of him. He has truly found his calling, and he is so passionate about teaching. I think he's a wonderful role model, just like you are to your littles. BTW, I'm the girliest girl ever and my classroom theme is New Orleans Saints. Girls love football too!

I loved my male elem. teachers. I’m a middle school stem teacher and I had a parent tell me this year “you’re the first male teacher my child has had”

Do you, be yourself. Teaching is not a competition. Yes, yes, YES!!! Well said Kyle!! :-)

Super inspiring. I’m a freshman in college right now with the goal of becoming a elementary ed teacher. I’m so excited. I’ve been able to coach sailing to kids ages 8-14 and I just LOVE teaching. As a guy it’s so intimidating to go into this field, but you made me feel so much better! Thank you so much 😊

Thank You so much for posting this! Every child deserves a positive male role model in their lives. You (and all male teachers) are a blessing.

Our kiddos need positive male role models in their lives! Glad you broke out of the box! You are able to be a more effective teacher when you are yourself!

Thank you, and I mean it, thank you. I am the only male in the Elementary School. You walk down the halls and the classrooms are picture perfect, everything is in order, and nothing is even close to out of place or style. I don’t fit the mold. I throw the ball to the kids, I give them the tough love, I care but don’t always respond the same as a female teacher. The kids love it, it’s just different. Great video, great example.

I wish we had MORE men in elementary grades, especially the lower elementary (K-2). There are SO many kids who would benefit from a great male role model like you mentioned. In my PreK-2 building we have one male teacher, but he's the P.E. coach. In my 9 years with this district there has not been a male classroom teacher in our building. Last year we got a male Assistant Principal who had been a 5th grade teacher and we started getting some male paras, which is GREAT! I can see how the kids relate differently to those role models. It's amazing the difference these guys can make. Our female paras are great too, but I think there is such a need for more strong, positive male figures in our schools. Most single parent families I have had are Mom and kids, so many of these little ones need a Father figure in their lives daily. Thank you for all that you do and for you and Kristin sharing your lives with us each day. It is truly something to look forward to! Love and hugs from Missouri! Jennifer

This is one io my favourite videos of yours! My children have been fortunate enough to have a few male teachers through their elementary years and they were all wonderful teachers. I love how you encourage teachers to be themselves and to remember that teaching is not a competition. More power to you Mr Thain; you are a wonderful male role model to all your students 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼

Thank you for such an inspirational video. I'm a male teacher and watching this makes me to continue to give my best at work with my students. God bless

Trust me, I don't do the cutesy stuff either. My guy friend is a first grade teacher. He loves it. He does not like working with all women. The women can be "extra." You're right, don't compare yourself. Be yourself.

I loved listening to your experience! As a young teacher, I have heard "you will be SUCH a better teacher once you have kids" so many times! I value where people are coming from when they are saying this, but I feel that it is not a deciding factor in whether or not you are a "good" teacher.

Thank you so much! This video really helped me out!

Man when was in elementary school I only got 1 male teacher in fifth grade and he had such an impact on me after 4 years of females.

Love this man! I'm jumping into elementary education this year!

Home to 5 boys who have really looked up to all of their male teachers. Keep doing good!

Thank you man for doing this video. Definitely going to pursue my elementary education degree.

Great channel :) Just subscribed! Need more male teachers in this profession!

I had a male teacher in year 2, really appreciated him. My cousin went to the same school she had one in year 5. There were quite a few in my primary school when I was there shout out to them I appreciated them!! My principals for most of primary were Male :)

Loved this! So many nuggets in your video. Be yourself is absolutely the biggest truth. I've spent my life being a little weird. Took me forever to be okay with it. Kids love weird with a sense of humor. Lol. I've worked in fairly small schools. I can say without exception... once I left Jr high in 2003... the males on campus have either been admin or maintenance. 0 in the classroom. Kids need male role models. Only a relatively small percentage have a male consistently in their lives. You are also correct in Pinterest looking classrooms. I am STILL paying on debt trying to have a Pinterest room. And I don't really need cutesy on the whole. Enjoyed the video!

This is REALLY interesting, I’m a male college student and am really considering switching my major to early education but didn’t really know if I should seeing as how male kindergarten teachers aren’t really a common thing. Thank you so much for the video!

Thanks for choosing Kindergarten! They need you!

On our elementary campus we have two male teachers and I will say they are both very popular and loved by our students! Keep up the great work and continue shining your positivity on a daily basis.

I teach future teachers at Utah Valley University and I love teaching. In my 7 years at the University I've taught @ 25 male teachers and over 1000 females! Being a divorced mom with a father who is not involved, I am so grateful for GOOD male teachers and role models. Thank you!

Hey Kyle! I've been teaching for over 30 years, and let me tell you...your expectations for your students are NOT too high! You keep doing what you are doing! Have I ever felt ostracized from my colleagues for being different? Try being a conservative in a public school.

Awesome thank you I am going to school to be a math teacher for 3 or 4 th grade . I had some doubts about it tbh because I'm a male but by seeing this video i wanna be one even more! Thank you brother

LOVED this video! I am halfway through getting my bachelors in elementary education, and I absolutely love listening to other male elementary educators! I actually thought about doing secondary but after observing a 3rd grade classroom for an assignment and working at a preschool for 4 years I realized my fears shouldn't get the best of me ... so I switched to elementary ed :) I get mixed results when I tell people my major (a lot of "you'll get a job so easily!") This video was amazing, Mr. Thain. Thank you for making it

Thank you for finally making this video! BTW, dude keep the beard. Looks sick!

I am so thankful when my son had his first male teacher, he has another this year (2 so far and in 5th grade), being a single mom I felt he needed balance with any male he could have as a teacher and/or coach (he's in a couple sports). You seem so awesome, thanks for sharing and congratulations on being a dad (soon)!

Apologies for the long post but this point is close to my heart and I've not heard anyone talk about it before, This is spot on, you explained this so well, when I started I was 1 of 45 Nursery teachers in the whole country, whether you like it or not as a male you are different and may approach things in different ways, I agree sometimes you can not feel part of the club, for example I'm not into talking about baking programmes etc in the staffroom but have found overall very welcomed by female members of staff. I agree establishing relationships with children can take a little longer with some children as they need to learn that you are not a 'scary man' especially if you are the first man they have encountered. If you think about becoming a teacher, don't hesistate it's so rewarding and enjoyable, yes the stereotype needs to be changed, I have been unfortunately questioned ' why would you want to teach young children? ' but this has been far outweighed by parents saying it's nice to see a man down here as well. In the UK male teachers are mostly popular in secondary school or put with the older children in Primary school and this can be off putting to newly qualified teachers. So if you're interested, come down the classroom with the little chairs and tables and I guarantee you will have laughs, fun, creativity and fufilment helping children with their first steps into education.

I love how you are just real and honest in your replies on this topic. I'm planning on going to school for education and am not sure about which grade. I've been contemplating elementary more lately but was holding back due to there being less male elementary teachers, discipline issues, and lack of higher salary. People compare it to other careers that make more with a similar credential. Did the topics of salary or discipline almost deter you before becoming a teacher?

I went into teaching intending to teach high school. My alternative cert. program asked me to teach kindergarten based on the need. I accepted the challenge with a lot of hesitation, worried I would have to put on an act to resemble how I’ve seen a lot of women teach the little ones. Thanks for the video, I’m a lot more confident I can do well with this age while still being myself.

My exact reason for going into Early Childhood! You're awesome! :) I would never have done it any other way. Thank you for the boost, because I am not a crafty cute individual. It truly is a fantastic. World and more men are needed in it!

If you’re a male the UK and are considering becoming a reception or a nursery teacher (same as kindergarten and pre-k) know that you are needed. We don’t have that many positive male role models in primary schools. Goooo fooor itttt!!!!

The school that I used to work in I would say that it is 95% female and about 5% men. There are about 10 to 12 men. The rest are women. There are times that I have felt like that on school grounds. But this video definitely got me to reflect and think about things as well when working in a school ground environment. Weather is a preschool ground or an elementary school ground. Thank you for the advice and suggestions on what to do and how to feel from my male's perspective when teaching. I am looking at a big opportunity of having my first classroom in preschool.

I’m doing to be a first year resource teacher at an elementary school , mid year this January. Thanks for your advice!

My first male teacher was in 5th grade and he made a HUGE impression on me in regards to learning, especially reading (Harry Potter was seen in a whole new way)! There's just something about that male figure that's like a dad version that's desperately needed in that environment. I think it would be really good for the young primary students to have more experience with that.

In the fall I will be starting at Wingate University to pursue a degree in Elementary Ed. At first I was not sure what grade I wanted to teach but as time went on and I started seeing that there is very rarely any male teachers in Elementary school, I decided that I wanted to teach Kindergarten. For years people have always told me that I would be great at it and how we need more male kindergarten teachers and I am excited to Start my degree in the fall

Too late for me. Student teaching, 3rd grade, DISASTER. The teacher I worked with expected me to be as creative as her or the other teachers in 3rd grade. Honey, I ain't no Mary Poppins. You may be, but I'm not :P

I think in the public elementary school I went to for two years there was two male teachers both was in 5th or 6th grade. The years I was in private school I had two male teachers one in gym and the other math/history. Now this was over thirty years ago. I do think more schools are hiring more males teachers in elementary. Hopefully you will inspire another male to go into teaching specially in elementary.

Bless your heart. Need more men like you

Great perspective! Dudes out there please consider elementary grades! I definitely dealt with on more than one occasion of having issues with African American girls. To clarify, I am a black, female teacher. I hold all students in my classroom accountable and to high behavior and academic standards. I meet your needs and encourage you to rise. That's my job. However the mothers of these girls think my actions warrant I'm 'Picking on them, or being petty." I teach 6th grade in an elementary school (K-6). So usually some of these students are use to getting their way, not use to being wrong and expected to grow or simply not working to potential. Great thing is administration has always been supportive in any situation.

When I did my first grade interim position, the teachers there thought it was the coolest thing. Now that I have a permanent position at this new school, everyone is so excited. I am definitely not going to have have a cute classroom, but it is going to be decorated to where you will know that it is a first grade classroom. I was happy to join the club of male elementary school teachers.

I am a male elementary teacher, I teach 5th grade math/science, and I have been teaching for 3 years now and I love it!! I went to college and majored in Elementary Education, I wanted to teach high school math but then I worked in an elementary school and I fell in love with it. I am looking to get certified in middle school mathematics but I am doing that so I can become an Elementary Math Coach, not go to another level.

I have been subbing for a while, and being a male in an elementary school is hard. By default, you are looked at weird because you are not a female. This might be just my experience, but I have heard teachers say, “it’s easier for the students to listen to you because you are a male.” I have met female teachers that have their classroom in check, but most female teachers just think men have it easier. There is a double standard that parents put on male teachers, that female teachers get a pass on- which is the entire trust situation. Female teachers, in elementary, are thought of as being more caring about the kids than men. I have heard a lot about it from the male teachers I have spoken to.

The most frequent comment I overhear from my students when I come in to teach them (I'm a supply [substitute] teacher btw) is "he's a boy" or "hey did you see? We have a boy teacher" - this both amuses me and saddens me because male teachers should not be treated as an anomaly.

I’d love to work with 5th grade kids ( I did some volunteering with some before covid) and you’re totally right about a male figure interacting with elementary school aged kids. Generally speaking, that age kids tend to respect a male more. One thing I remember from my 4th and 5th grade years (1998 to 2000): never underestimate the influence you have on those kids!

I'm about to start studying for this. I'm still worried I'll face some stigma.

I am really nervous as I have my preservice coming up and I am doubting whether this is right for me. By watching your video I feel slightly reassured, I am going to test the waters for now😁

In my elementary of around 1000 students there are only four male teachers. I understand the not fitting in part, but I would like to think that it has given me some perspective on what many many women out there go through on a daily basis in male dominated fields. For that I am thankful, but it can still be challenging at times. Oh you men are all the same, oh you men are a bunch of babies, oh you men etc etc etc. I’m not easily offending at all, but I am not a fan of being lumped in with someone’s husband who is in the doghouse or someone’s brother or boyfriend who is a douchebag. I share a chromosome with them and that’s about it lol

Hey man I know you made this video a while ago but I really appreciate this outlook on your situation! I just chose elementary education as my major and I’m really exited. With that if you get the chance could you tell me some of the main changes between being in the class room now and 5 years ago if any?

in my middle school there’s more male teachers.. i have a male teacher and he is around 22. He’s a great teacher!!

Good video. There should be more male teachers.

How do you..... Dress, is it casual? How do you come up with lesson plans? How do you handle the "bad students" the loud How do you help kids that are struggling ? What is it like dealing with Parents ? How is the pay, when starting out? Thanks bruh.

Currently enrolled in the USF college of education for 6-12 social science education. And your video i think makes me want to change to elementary education....

I’ve never had a male teacher in my _life._ (besides my elementary school’s gym coach and some very temporary subs) I started JH recently (7th) and _all_ my teachers are female

Hey man! I’m actually interested going back to school to get my B.S. in Education/Elementary School Education, for reasons similar to yours. I was just curious as to where you attended school? I was considering earning my degree online but wasn’t sure if this would hurt my career or not. Thank you and love your content!

I’m currently a substitute teacher with an associate’s of science hoping to become a full time elementary teacher.

Well I wish you luck, man. Considering the amount of prejudice and paranoia that exist towards men in early education, this is very admirable of you to go on with it regardless.

I have my students’ artwork make the color in my room... Administrators eat that stuff up!

Im a 19yo male currently in the UK studying education as i want to be a primary school teacher but i cant wait to get a few years experience and immigrate into the states to teach :)

I had a guy teacher in 5th grade and almost my whole schedule was guys in 6th grade. Unfortunately, I haven't had any since then but I do like their style better ...

I’m an 18 year old and I’ve wanted to be an elementary teacher for a few years now I found that’s the Carter path that most fits me and I’d enjoy but I’m young and honestly very fearful and have so many questions

I'm a male teacher candidate and 4th year substitute who found the dry humor in this video to be hilarious.

I just completed my first full year as a grade two teacher. And even though there were two other men at the school, it was quite tough. My team wound up being very politically motivated and these things you acknowledge as differences (e.g. not having colour co ordinated displays) were taken to be failures. I wish I had good guidance in my workplace to negotiate the complex relationships in my team. They were supportive at the start. But formed an impression that I wasn’t able to receive feedback. Something I only found out towards the end of the year. It’s been a helluva year to say the least.

Awesome love this vid!! Your Instagram link isn't working :/

Nothing wrong with how you do things. I'm a guy teacher as well but I enjoy all of the cute activities with my babies. I have the cutest classroom in the building 😂

I've always been judged especially when I worked in childcare. It bothered me at first; however, I could care less. As long as I'm doing my job correctly, I'm fine. As I enter my 1st year, I'm still going to have that same mindset. 😁

I had a 5th grade Black student's mother get upset once she found out her son was in a White man's class. It was actually the second year he was in my class and there weren't any problems until the day his mom met me. After that he started making racist remarks and his mother had him taken out of my after school class. Similar thing happened a couple years later when I had a black girl student that was doing just fine and after the parent saw me, suddenly their daughter became openly racist. Also had a principal that got upset with me for making students on the soccer field take a 5 minute time out for repeatedly harassing the only White student playing. The principal was upset with me and gave me a warning/discipline step. However when the students said one negative thing about a Black student (not the N word either) then they were punished for a whole week. Also had one Black woman supervisor that stole my Sony Discman that I had since I was a kid, and other co workers steal about $200 worth of my stuff when I decided to leave that district. And had some sabotage my paperwork multiple times too. I guess that is to be expected in liberal California. My main challenge has been being a straight White Christian man working in California. Most of the students liked me though. I was the favorite of many of them and a few even told me they wished I was their parent instead. :) I won't let the negative messed up people prevent me from doing what I like though. I just stay away from districts that seem to have a bad work environment.

I am in year 6, and one of two males. I hate cutesy stuff lol. I’d rather just be cool and fun than plaster cute things with cute fonts everywhere.

I'm in 7th and both of my teachers are guys they are some of the coolest dudes I know there alot nicest then all of the female teachers there the reasons I want to be a teacher... I really want to be a kindergarten teacher

I wanna be a 4th Grade Teacher and then a 5th grade teacher then 1 school year later go down too 2nd grade then back up to 4th grade for 2 years then go to 5th grade for 4 years

I agree with you--there should be more men in elementary education! Especially in the primary grades :) From grades K-3, I went to school in Mexico, and from first grade to 3rd grade I had made teachers, and they were fantastic!

I love working with kids but I do not understand how edtpa is even fair? I'm surprised no one has thought of suing. Edtpa is company and has nothing to do with colleges. Our states are selling out!

I have had MANY situations where I was discriminated just because I was a guy teacher/worker. I'm glad you haven't had to deal with any of that.

Male Future Teacher right here. I start school November 1, 2022

Hello, Thanks for sharing. I just started taking classes to become a teacher myself. I was just wondering about your tattoos? i have some and am a little worried about getting a job.

Wanting to be one when I get out of the military, have no college experience yet what it like for school to become one?

I want to become male teacher,and I need advice 🙏

What’s going on! 22 year old guy going into elementary education. Do you do consultations? I’d love to chat

Hey im thinking of teaching elementart im a guy also , im just afraid of the fear of putting on a "persona" ie i dont really see myself being super happy rainbows and daiseys all the time (im not a grumpy or anything), thats why i thinking high school also but i cant make up my mind? Any thoughts? I dont have experience with children really and its too late as college starts soon :( I just dont want to get the feeling of feeling like i have to put on a "character " as i can imagine getting tired of that anf also fearing that i woulf have a lack of enthusiasm with content that im teaching? I dont really see myself dancing and singing but i know that thats not what its all about I it different in reality do you just be your normal voice etc? thank you

It's UNFAIR to anyone you meet in contact there

How do you as a male be no nonsense without coming off intimidating.

im sorry ur from ohio🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

only male elementary teacher in my school was gay, to be fair he was my favorite elementary school. But yeah, I'm having a revelation rn

High school doesn’t count cause they need male teachers the guys pretty much. Because of little thing called puberty makes sense to me

pick me

Too late for me. Student teaching, 3rd grade, DISASTER. The teacher I worked with expected me to be as creative as her or the other teachers in 3rd grade. Honey, I ain't no Mary Poppins. You may be, but I'm not :P