Positive things about being a teacher

[jasonf]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 5:31pm

I know I've used the board to vent about some negative aspects of my job, but there are also many wonderful things about being a teacher, and some of them came very clear to me today. To name a few:

A) I was out with a HORRIBLE cold yesterday. Today, coming back, it was amazing how much I was missed from just one day (I have an excellent track record with attendance - I'm NEVER out). So many kids asked how I was feeling and told me they missed me from the one day, I was overwhelmed by it.

B) State testing was today. Walking around looking at the kids tests, it was good to see them writing the bulls*** I taught them in their test -- not so much that they had to do it, but the fact is there that they CAN do what I tell them.

C) For the state testing, I was in another teacher's room. The room was horrible and stuffy, and that sucked, BUT I saw on this teachers board an idea I'm stealing next year. He has an entire bulletin board of things the kids said over the year - mostly stupid stuff that came out of the kids' mouths, or ridiculous conversations that they had, that he had the kids transcribe and put up. What a great idea! This comes under the "positive things about teaching" because I realized two things from this. One, as teachers we ARE privy to a lot of inane moments that most other jobs don't get, and two, that we get to share these inside joke moments with the kids that are just special on their own.

D) Being out yesterday, I had left plans for the sub for one of my classes to continue working on the play they are writing as a class. Without missing a beat, the kids kept on writing and working in their groups -- it was apparently the best behaved class of the day, and they managed to accomplish something to boot. The fact that I've got these kids so excited and into this project that they can do it with no guidance from me for a day, and be self-motivated enough to work on it (because God knows the other classes that had busy work to do couldn't handle it) really impressed me.

E) Today was also parent conferences (I know, long day - it's worse tomorrow). Nothing can replace the feeling you get when a parent whose child you've worked with for two years and helped raise his grades, self-esteem, social skills, and personality (yes, even personality) sincerely thanks you for what you've done. Well, maybe gratitude from the kid himself, but when one parent after another comes in THANKING YOU - just -- Wow.

Sorry if this is long winded, but it was a good day despite my runny nose/achy head and wanted to share that there ARE good things about teaching - great things even - for those considering it (or a reminder to those who've been doing it a while).

[liotte]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 5:33pm

Congrats on such a good day!

As a fellow educator, I know how frustrating it can be working with kids, but it is also incredibly rewarding and wonderful.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 5:35pm

That's wonderful to hear. Congrats on being an effective and positive influence!

[caitiesus1522]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 5:35pm

That is so awesome to read!

I seriously think teaching is probably the most rewarding career there is.

And major congrats for making such a difference to your students

[KelRel]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 6:08pm

Thanks for sharing that. It is always nice to see the good side of my future profession. I hope you feel better!

[cturtle]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 6:10pm

i wouldn't do it myself if it were not overall a positive experience. it's all about the kids, which i sometimes forget. there are hundreds of things that i want to rail against every day (not the least of which for us has been having our principal, whom we love, transferred to another school) ... but it really comes down to interaction with the kids and helping them to feel good about themselves ... in spite of everything else

we're on spring break this week, but your post was a nice reminder to go back next week with an appropriately positive attitude. thanks

[JLSatUD]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 6:18pm

I agree. I do whine about junk that goes with the job, but it really is the best job in the world. I don't have my "own" class since I'm the media specialist/librarian, but in a way they are ALL mine. I love getting to know them as they grow up. The 5th graders that are leaving us this year were my student teaching class in the fall of their first grade year and to see them be young adults is so cool.

I love the idea of writing down the conversations! I'm stealing that too!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 6:42pm

It's nice to know that somewhere in this great land of ours, teaching is still a noble profession.

Just recently, one of my students stole my car.

Updated On: 4/4/06 at 06:42 PM

[Marguerite Chauvelin]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 6:44pm

Jasonf, I was wondering, do you lead the drama program at your school? An English teacher leads it in our district amd I was wondering if that happens a lot.

[cturtle]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 7:00pm

jlsatud ... did i know you were a school librarian also? (my brain cells are dying.) all 600 are mine too (although, SOME i don't claim at all ... ha!) it IS fun to watch them grow up, even though they (usually) stop hugging

[jasonf]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 7:03pm

Well, I've actually carved out my own drama niche. When I came, the one official drama thing was the school musical - and the same person has been doing that for years.

So, I've done my own stuff -- I started an acting/improv club, I have my students in my honors classes write and perform a class play at the end of each year (it's a good three-four month project -- best thing I do all year - the kids learn more from that experience than anything else I do), and I take a group of kids to the Bucks County Playhouse junior drama festival with a play each year. (And that's why this time of year is the most hectic for me!)

There are always things we'd all love to rail against in our profession - but we need to remember that 99% of that is NOT the kids -- it's everything else around them (and yes, Dollypop, indirectly that includes your car getting stolen - that sucks -sorry)

[RENThead414]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 7:13pm

That's awesome :) I can't wait to finish college so I can actually be a "real" teacher.

[cturtle]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 7:15pm

i started doing a daily newscast with my elementary students this year. it's taken a LOT of my time, but it's been a fun and creative outlet for me ... and it's gotten the kids involved in something special

[singingwendy]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 7:17pm

We all need those days that make us remember why we chose this wacky and wonderful career. Glad that you could have one!

This past weekend I went to our one High School's production of Into the Woods. Not only was it a wonderful production (as most of their shows tend to be), but I had four voice students in the cast. It was wonderful seeing them put the training they've been taught into practice. There were also several students I'd had in elementary school who are now in high school in the show. I'd like to think that in a small way, I had a part in their success as well.

Oh...and BTW, I can totally sympathize with the cold thing. I left school after my first two classes yesterday, for fear I would pass out in front of my 3rd graders, and then stayed home today. Hope you feel better!

[caitiesus1522]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 7:31pm

Am I the only one who is very happy to see that there are so many teacher/future teachers on this board?

[Dancinqueen123]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 7:32pm

That's so awesome. I'm seriously considering becoming a teacher and your post is motivating me to keep trying. Thank you!

[DancNdaMoonlite]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 7:46pm

I've always wanted to be a teacher. What grades are the most fun to teach?

[JLSatUD]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 7:53pm

We do the news out of our media center too. It's great fun! I love that the little kids' jaws drop when they see one of the 5th grade news kids walks by. You'd think they just saw a real TV celebrity in their school!

My personal favorite age is 3rd/4th grade. They're old enough to do (some) stuff independently but they're not (too) hormonal yet. :) I student taught for 8 weeks at a middle school. That was enough to convince me to never set foot in one again! My supervisor keeps telling me I should work at a variety of schools if I want to "get anywhere" but I'm perfectly happy teaching my little ones. No teenagers for me, no way! :)

No offense, teenagers. :)

[cturtle]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 7:55pm

elementary is definitely the most fun. i like grades 2 and 3 ... they're old enough to do a certain amount of independent work, but most have not reached the totally obnoxious stage.

Updated On: 4/4/06 at 07:55 PM

[JLSatUD]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 7:56pm

And they're still young enough to fall for the stuff like "I really like how Billy's table is sitting" to get the rest of the tables sitting and quiet. That doesn't work forever, but it's a precious and wonderful gift for the years that it does work.

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 7:59pm

I'm on my way to becoming a high school teacher. I like the fact that I'll be able to have deep, intelligent conversations with my students. I was a sub for 3 months for high school remedial english and I thought it was so incredibly rewarding. I don't think there's a "best age" to teach; it depends on what you like!

[caitiesus1522]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 8:03pm

My mom is a teacher and always that second grade is her favorite because the are not "too cool" to give their teachers hugs and still need help, but can do some stuff. And they say really cute things!

But I will want to be a middle school/high school english teacher because to me it seems like those teachers have made the most impact on their students.

[jasonf]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 8:05pm

I teach middle school. It's not for everyone, but I love it (and it is possible to have intelligent conversations with them, even at that age, believe it or not).

[zepka102]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 8:07pm

leave it to me to be the negative one here...


i'm getting so teachered out. i sub everyday and then going straight to tutoring at huntington learning center, so 12 hours of my day is spent in that role. then i come home and worry about the application im filling out and waiting to hear back from a reference so i can get it submitted already. i'd be jumping ship if i wasn't having fun with my gifted and talented placement.

[caitiesus1522]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 8:10pm

The other reason I want to be a teacher, the advanced students!