I'm a senior education major, and for my college, we do year long student teaching our senior year. This means I take college classes all day on Monday, and Tuesday through Thursday I am in the classroom. I have learned so much about teaching this year. There are countless stories I could share, strategies I've learned, and the teaching I am becoming. However, the most important lesson I have learned is: that being a teacher is more than teaching.
1. You Are Another Parent
When my students walk in the classroom I'm in, many times the first question out of my mouth is "did you have breakfast?" Many times I am the only person that praises them for the good work they have done. I once wrote a student a note talking about what an amazing job they had done in class that day, and their response was,"oh my goodness I am in heaven! This is the best day ever. Thank you for being proud of me!!" Wow. A simple note home, that their parent probably won't even read, changed this child's life. Now this isn't the case for all teachers, but being a parent in the classroom is a real thing. You praise, you reprimand, you get excited, you become disappointed, you correct wrong behavior, you teach table manners, you handle conflicts, etc..
2. You're A Nurse
Seriously...I've cleaned out ears before. Taught a child how to blow their nose. I've given out band-aids left and right. Yes, I do not deal with anything super serious, but the small things that can be handled in class are handled in class.
3. You're A Cheerleader
We clap, we yell good job, we do different cheers (seriously, cheers) when a student gets something right, and we praise. Even more so when students are feeling down, you pick them back up. You tell them that they can do it and they are smart. You shower them with praises and the biggest smile on their face. Because often times you are their biggest cheerleader.
4. You Don't Have A Bad Day
Technically yes, there are bad days. But when you really look at it you aren't allowed to have a bad day. I'm in charge of twenty-one sweet 7 to 8-year-olds. If I have a bad day, that affects 21 7 to 8-year-olds. I'm not allowed to have a bad day, these kids can't handle me having a bad day. No matter what is going on in life, I have to leave it outside of the classroom. I can't afford to bring it into the classroom because it affects little precious lives that have so much to take on already. It is my job to be a light in the classroom, so that means doing whatever it takes to be that light.
5. You Don't Just Leave Work At Work
So many people have their "work life" and "home life". That isn't possible with teaching. They intertwine, always, it's impossible to have it any other way. I go to watch my kids sports days, I sit there thinking about them at dinner and why they had such a bad day. Seriously, my life revolves around them but I wouldn't have it any other way. They're my joy and I've probably told the same people twenty stories about them. They're my other family, it's impossible to just "leave them at work".
6. You Wouldn't Want Any Other Job
Sure it's hard. It's hard to keep up with the standards your state sets. It's hard to make sure your students are where they need to be. There is so much that comes into play, which makes the teaching world so difficult. But you love it. You love playing such a huge role in students' lives. You love knowing that you have the opportunity to make a huge impact in someone's life and help them succeed. You love your job, no matter what others say about it. And you should, because being a teacher is such a beautiful thing.
So, when someone says teaching is easy for whatever reason, always remember that you are not just a teacher. You are so much more.
