Top Ten Reasons to be a Teacher

I found this while I was looking for resources for my management plan. I liked it so I thought I would share.

1. Student Potential

Unfortunately, not every student will succeed in your class. However, this fact should not keep you from believing that every student has the potential for success. This potential is so exciting - each new year presents new challenges and new potential successes.

2. Student Successes

Closely related to the previous pick, student success is what drives teachers to continue. Each student who didn't understand a concept and then learned it through your help can be exhilarating. And when you actually reach that student that others have written off as being unteachable, this can truly be worth all the headaches that do come with the job.

3. Teaching a Subject Helps You Learn a Subject

You will never learn a topic better than when you start teaching it. I remember my first year teaching AP Government. I had taken Political Science courses in college and thought I knew what I was doing. However, the student questions just made me dig deeper and learn more. There is an old adage that it takes three years of teaching to truly master a subject and in my experience this is the truth.

4. Daily Humor

If you have a positive attitude and a sense of humor, you will find things to laugh about each day. Sometimes it will be silly jokes you will make up as you teach that might get a laugh from your students. Sometimes it will be jokes that kids share with you. And sometimes students will come out with the funniest statements without realizing what they've said. Find the fun and enjoy it!

5. Affecting the Future

Yes it might be trite, but it is true. Teachers mold the future each day in class. In fact, it is a sad fact that you will see some of these students more consistently day-to-day than their parents will.

6. Staying Younger

Being around young people everyday will help you remain knowledgeable about current trends and ideas. It also helps break down barriers.

7. Autonomy in the Classroom

Once a teacher closes that door each day and begins teaching, they really are the ones who decide what's going to happen. Not many jobs provide an individual with so much room to be creative and autonomous each day.

8. Conducive to Family Life

If you have children, the school calendar will typically allow you to have the same days off as your kids. Further, while you might bring work home with you to grade, you will probably be getting home close to the same time as your children.

9. Job Security

In many communities, teachers are a scarce commodity. It is fairly certain that you will be able to find a job as a teacher, though you might have to wait until the start of a new school year and be willing to travel within your county/school district. While requirements might be different from state to state, once you have proven yourself a successful teacher, it is relatively easy to move around and find a new job.

10. Summers Off

Unless you work in a district that has a year-round-education system, you will have a couple of months off in the summer where you can choose to get another job, teach summer school, or just relax and vacation. Further, you typically get two weeks off during Christmas/Winter Holidays and one week for Spring Break which can really be a huge benefit and provide much needed rest time.

While I agree with some more than others. I thought it was good food for thought.

The original article by Melissa Kelly can be found here.

Messy Room

I had to complete this for my technology class and did not have the heart to delete it. :)

Why I love education...

For two reasons, one because it is my dream, and two because I want to make a difference for good.  I was raised to teach.  When other little girls were dreaming of their wedding days I dreamed of the classroom I would teach in and the places I would study.  I would teach my siblings, I would teach my dolls, I would teach anything that was still long enough.  Teaching is one of my passions.

I have been fortunate to have several amazing teachers in my lifetime.  Teachers who loved to learn and shared that passion with their students.  Teachers who would not give up on a child.  Teachers who made the boring interesting and learning a life long quest.  I have also had teachers who made me want to give up.  Teachers who never learned my name.  And teachers who made me hate subjects.

I want to be the type of teacher who will change her students lives.  I want to share the excitement of learning, the joy and the power of hope.  I know as a teacher I will have the ability to touch many lives.  I will be able to provide many children with a strong base to build upon in later years.  I am so excited to make a difference one child at a time.