Life of a Teacher
Another school year behind me. I’m still standing, I still know my real name and I still know how to get to my real home. I’m still completely in love with my job. Another year in the win column! Next week I have two days of training and then summer/prep for next year can begin.
My sweet husband knows that I need several days to decompress which means unless absolutely needed I will be a blob of existence. Judge me all you want, I don’t care but for about 3 days I will be in pj’s (probably the same ones), my hair may get brushed once a day and basic hygiene and that is about it. It is me, HGTV, Netflix and Prime. If you are a teacher share what you do to decompress at the end of the year by commenting at the bottom of this post. I’ve heard some funny things before from other teachers.
I enjoy reading post on FB from my teacher friends about their year. It is exciting to know that those who have completed grad school while teaching and balancing home life with kids will be transitioning to assistant principal or principal positions next year. Some are excited because they are changing grade levels or will be teaching a different subject next year. Some are excited because they are moving to a new school within their district or moving to a new district that is closer to home. Some are celebrating their first year as a teacher or their first year as a principal.
While there are those of us celebrating our successes and our excitement of being at new schools with new teams I know there are teachers out there that aren’t celebrating and who aren’t excited and my heart hurts for them. I’m talking about good teachers who do amazing things. Sure there are some who go into the teaching profession and after the first year or two realize it isn’t their calling like they thought and leave on their own free will. Nothing wrong with that. Unfortunately, there are some teachers who don’t realize the reason they are unhappy year after year is because the teaching profession just isn’t the right fit for them.
Teachers are often asked at Professional Developments to think back and remember a teacher who inspired them, who made them want to become a teacher. I can never really think of one particular teacher. I remember my second grade teacher being really nice but bless her heart I think one of my best childhood friends and myself made her work for her salary that year. I had a nice fourth grade teacher and a nice science teacher in eighth grade. That’s it. That’s all I remember. My inspiration came through teachers my daughters had or that I worked with when I was an assistant.
When Brook was at Red Apple for Preschool at the end of the year she brought home a memory book that the teacher had made for the parents. I knew right then that when I had my own classroom I was going to make those for my parents. It was that special. When I was an assistant my day was split between kindergarten and instructional resource. The teachers for each class are as good as they come. I took mental notes and soaked up as much as I could. I would come home and make notes on the computer so I wouldn’t forget. I knew I wanted to be a teacher but these ladies showed me the type of teacher I wanted to be and that I would eventually become.
It’s these types of teachers that I am starting to see loose their excitement, loose their passion. It’s teachers with the potential to be phenomenal that are leaving the profession. There is no one single reason why this is happening. It could be one of many things.
Unfortunately it wasn’t that long ago that I (previous district) along with other teachers were valued based on test scores. As pressure from the top trickles down to the principals it can sometimes be overwhelming and the pressure is passed down to the teachers. Students are coming to school with more and more adversities. Teachers are having to teach more social skills as well as academics. The first several years for a teacher are the hardest. They have to learn curriculum (some for multiple subjects), classroom management, time management, create resources and so much more.
I wish I could say I have answers but I don’t. Expectations will continue to change. Standards will continue to change. Students will still come lacking social and academic skills. I think sometimes about something I heard someone say and it is this: Before long we will look back and call these the good old days of teaching. It’s true. I look back 10 years ago and call that the good old days of teaching. The two expert teachers I had the privilege of assisting I’m sure would say 10 years ago, 20 years ago were the good old days of teaching.
There is no magic wand to wave so that good teachers, teachers that have the ability to change a child’s life don’t leave their profession but we can offer hope, encouragement and support. I can’t take someone’s pain or discouragement but I can offer support. I can encourage them to push through the tough times and not give up. I can do for someone what many did for me.
