What I Like Most About My Job
June 29, 2010
June, July, and August…
Teaching is incredibly taxing. It feels a lot like parenting, where there’s a whole lot of giving without a lot of appreciation. You never seem to hear when you are doing something right, only when you’re doing something “wrong.” Sure the occasional business will throw you a bone–and don’t think I didn’t take FULL advantage of Sonic’s half off teacher appreciation day–but the sweet, little 13-year-olds I actually work with/for, are…slow to praise. When I was a new teacher my mentor gave me a profound warning. She said, “You can swing from the chandelier naked, and in three days they will still say they’re bored.” But, herein lies the pleasure.
The thing that I like most about my job is the immense room for improvement. When I started teaching I was so excited for that day when I had all my lesson plans for the year done and all I had to do was “tweak.” Ha! What a joke that turned out to be. Every year I overhaul my class. I change the books we read, the projects we do, the ideas we research, etc. And I am so glad I do. It keeps me anxious and busier than I ever want to be. But it keeps my job exciting and creative.
I frequently go to conferences, read books or blogs, or collaborate with other teachers to learn all the many ways I’m doing it wrong. Sometimes I come away frustrated with all the work I still have to do and how far I still am from my goal. But more often I come away charged up by all the new challenges.
No matter how long I teach, or how well versed I become in my content, there will always be new and better ways to teach my students because the world is always changing, which means my students will always be changing. Fortunately, there are a few constants in the whirlwind we call teenagers: they will always be hard (but not impossible) to please. Like my high school choir teacher, they will withhold all semblance of approval until long after it is earned. But on that rare occasions when they slip up and let you see how they really feel…you walk away golden. 
Wow, you posted!!
It takes a certain kind of somebody to be a teacher. I don’t have those qualities, but am grateful for those that do and use them. You’ve heard my sentiments before, I’ll always be grateful for those willing to make a difference. And yes, it takes scarifice and hard work, but almost everything in life that’s worthwhile does.
I know you don’t teach for the self gratification, but someday, somewhere, I beleive you’ll see the fruits of your labor and you will be amazed.
The way you described it, it really is like parenting! Just when you think you’ve figured it out, you realize you don’t. All kids are different, and the worst thing you can do is sit back on your laurels. Thanks for the being the kind of teacher who is adaptable. I want you to teach my kids.