Calling all teachers!

[lil' love]

Hi
I'm an Elementary Ed major in school right now and I wanted to talk with some people in the field.
How do you like teaching?
Is it as rewarding as I imagine its going to be?
Did you ever have doubts about your career choice?

I sometimes think I have this Fantasy of the ideal classroom and I'm scared that my dreams are going to be shattered. We have a lot of standardized tests that the state has required the students to pass and this places a ton of stress on the teachers. It also limits their freeedom to teach what they want.

I'd like to hear how some teachers feel about their career. I'm very excited to start teaching and I think I will love it but I've never taught a day in my life! eek!

[Missgrl]

lil'love,
Go see what me and a few other's have said in the "teachers-advice please" thread right next to yours. It'll help...post back if you need more info. BTW-I don't want to burst your bubble, but your dreams will be shattered! BUT-you will build new dreams and love it all the same! Unfortunaletyl when you learn to play by "their" rules you will love it.

[papabliss]

Hi,

I have taught school at the elementary level, the middle school and at the high school level. Now I am a professor of science education and technology, and teach pre-service teacher education courses and graduate courses in education and instructional technology.

I have a couple questions:
Would you tell me why you chose education as a field of study?
Have you taught children in anyother capacity (ie swim lessons, summer camp, girl scouts, etc.)
And last, do you have a particular target age or subject you prefer to teach?

There are many pressures on teachers these days. Those who stay with the field can usually overlook many of the stresses that drive others from the profession.

Personally, I love it. While the money was not good at the public school level, I always felt like I had the autonomy and control to pretty much do what I thought best in order to teach my students. On the other hand, I did work with other teachers who seemed to get frustrated whenever things did not go exactly as they planned, or students did not do what was expected.

Anyway, if you answer my questions, I will give me a little better picture of what I think you will encounter in the real world.

Cheers.

[teacher&mama]

You sound very enthusiastic about teaching and that is IMPORTANT!! Keep that enthusiasm! Yeah - things can bum you out such as... standarized tests, buerocracy b.s., parent issues, low pay, administration issues, stress, not enough time in the day, etc. (the list can go on and on) BUT... if you are enthusiastic about teaching and remember why you are there - for the KIDS - you are going to love teaching! I DO!

I try not to get too involved in the politics of teaching or the system and just try to do the best I can for my students. I feel I enjoy my job more than those who are too wrapped up in the politics.

Keep the fantasy and strive for it!!!

[Alexander]

lil'love,

www.help4teachers.com is a rescorse that I e-mail subscribe to.

While I feel the Public and Private school systems around the world (!) are broken, (and therefore do not altogether sympathise with the continued efforts to make it work) and teachers are increasingly finding themselves between a rock and a hard place, this is a forum that provides many interesting and creative "outs" for teachers.

Hopr this helps.

a

[onehipmomma]

Hi, my name is Sean. I'm obviously not a regular here but I happened to be in the room when my wife was checking out the board.

When I saw your post I felt compelled to respond. I am an elementary teacher in Canada. I currently teach Grade Six, but have also taught, grades 1, 3, 4, 7 and 8. In response to your first question, I LOVE teaching. When I get up in the morning I can't wait to get to school (well not when I first wake up - but once I'm out of bed.

In response to your second question, I can't think of many more rewarding jobs. Their is simply nothing like the exhilaration of teaching a child to do something they have never done before or helping a child understand something that they have struggled long and hard to grasp!

In response to your third question, "Who doesn't have doubts?" I always say the day I stop doubting and second guessing myself is the day I cease to learn. It is my self-evaluation and second guessing that help me to be the teacher that I am.

I will not lie to you. Teaching is extremely challenging and many of the things that you learn in Teacher's College would only work in a perfect school in a perfect world. Unfortunately, that perfect school does not exist... at least I haven't found it. In terms of standardized testing, we too have provincial testing in Ontario. The situation need only be as stressful as the teacher chooses it to be. At the end of the day how important is a standardized test that an elementary student writes. What matters is that the students learn... If you teach them to the best of your abilities and give them everything you've got... you both win!

Let me tell you a story that exemplifes the life of a teacher. Earlier this year I had a student who no matter what they did was unable to understand any concepts in math. Every test she wrote, every assignment she handed in she failed. As any teacher would do, I started to spend a little extra time with her to help her. On Wednesday she wrote a math test. When I marked it she got a C+. Most students in the class would be very disappointed with this mark, but she beamed from ear to ear. She had improved and that is really all that matters for any student or any teacher. I made a difference in the life of a child. That is what teaching is about, you have an unparalleled opportunity to change the world one soul at a time. Good luck to you. You are taking on a tremendous responsibility and being given an incredible priviledge.

I'm sorry for the length of this post, but too many times we as teachers don't stand up for what we believe in. To teach is to change lives and we always need to remember that.

If you'd like to e-mail me I'm available at [e-mail]