Positive things about being a teacher- Page 2

[jasonf]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 8:16pm

zepka - subbing must suck - I wouldn't be a sub for anything. The whole point of teaching is making the connections with students, and subbing doesn't get that done.

Don't underestimate the non-gifted and talented students. All students (well, most) have something about them that you can find something positive about -- a good teacher will find that thing and bring it out.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 8:17pm

I've worked with toddlers and preschoolers in various capacities for 6 years now. My favorite story is about this one two-year-old girl who *never* spoke the entire hour and a half I spent with her each week. She wasn't delayed, she was just really quiet and shy. One week, her mother comes to pick her up and someone else said my name. Her mother stopped and was like "You're (name)? Emily has been talking about you for weeks! She says you're her favorite teacher!"

I grinned like an idiot. That kind of thing *has* to improve your mood.

[CanadianSnowbird]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 8:26pm

I loved sitting during circle time and having the preschoolers decide who would get to sit in my lap.

[singingwendy]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 8:47pm

Zepka--One of the worst things about being a teacher is actually getting the job. First you have to fill out all the applications, which usually includes getting a physical and getting your child abuse clearances.
Next, you have to keep your eye out for any openings, because God forbid they would actually list them in the newspaper.
Then, if you're lucky enough to get an interview, you have to be available for the one or two days the district is holding the interviews, and if you can't, too bad, there are 40 other people waiting to get your job.
Finally, if you do get the job, chances are it's about 2 days before school starts, and so you are running around like a maniac to get ready for the first day.

Oh....and you need to do all this while attempting to hold down some other type of job and/or substituting, which means you are usually working until late at night and then being awakened by the phone at 5 AM to substitute in a class you really don't want to teach, but take anyway because it might be a foot in the door!

All I can say, is that once you're finally in.....it's worth it!
Updated On: 4/4/06 at 08:47 PM

[ToBeingAnUsForOnce]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 9:07pm

Reading this thread has made me very happy! I'm in high school right now but I already have my sights set on becoming a music teacher in a high school (grade 7-11 here in Quebec).

My school's music program is only in it's 3rd year and is very small, and I've been helping it grow by being part of the Music Council since last year and organizing fundraisers to buy instruments and organizing concerts and everything else to do with the music program. One day the music teacher hurt her back and couldn't come in and the sub knew nothing about music, so I got to miss my gym class to help out with a grade 8 class (who are her worst behaved class). The sub ended up just standing at the back of the class while I conducted and...pretty much taught them. Even though I had to get them to be quiet pretty much every minute, I was surprised at how well they listened to me, considering I'm only 2 years older than them. It just felt really good and I floated through the rest of the day! I still tutor a couple of kids in music once a week.

But anyways, to the point, my music teacher has been VERY stressed out lately because we have a concert coming up and the grade 8 class I mentioned is being horrible and their songs that they're going to perform sound terrible, and I've been having some second thoughts about teaching music. But this thread has reassured me that it's what I want to do!

[zepka102]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 10:00pm

i'm not a happy person to those early morning wake up calls.

[cturtle]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 10:12pm

the early wake up is one of the worse things about teaching for me. i BARELY get there by 7:25 each morning. and next year it's going to be 7:15. ugggg! but it IS nice to get home early. and the breaks are divine

[singingwendy]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 10:27pm

Teaching music has its pluses and minuses...just like every subject. I teach elementary vocal music, and most of the time I love it. You get to have the students for all six years (which can be a plus or minus depending on the student!) You aren't worried about getting anyone ready for state tests. You get to expose kids to something so different than what they get in the regular classroom

However, there are many times, when you are not treated as a "teacher' but as a "specialist". Unfortunately, you are often viewed as the one who watches the students so the classroom teachers can have their preparation time. Often, you are only judged on how well recieved your programs are...which by the way, are expected, yet it is often difficult to find rehearsal time to put all the students together. And, you are constantly in jeopardy of having your classroom taken away, and being forced to teach on a cart.....which is next to impossible to do successfully....

However, in the long run, the successes outweigh the problems. If they didn't none of us would still be doing it. And if in you don't see more plusses than minuses, you need to find a new job. Life's too short to keep a job you hate....and we've all had teachers who should have gotten out years ago!