In my last post, I talked about five reasons it’s a good idea to become a teacher. You can find that post here. Today, I’ll talk about five more reasons and hopefully convince a few of you that teaching really is the coolest job on the planet!
Reason #6: Students aren’t the only ones learning
One of the unexpected parts of teaching is that the teacher isn’t always the one instructing. Students can impart so much knowledge and wisdom to their teachers as well as to their fellow classmates. The kids you teach can contribute when they do research projects, writing assignments, or any other number of tasks. Students can also help their teachers translate modern slang terms— a somewhat silly, but helpful way they can teach their teachers. Students can share their opinions and viewpoints, giving teachers new ways to think about things. I remember having my students write a journal about how they felt about writing, and one student responded with, “I love to write because I can say more with my pen than I ever could with my mouth.” What a powerful thought! It has stuck with me for over ten years and I think about it often about the power of writing. Students really do have a unique way of teaching their teachers.
Reason #7: The schedule is family friendly
For parents who are also teachers, the schedule offers great opportunities for family time. For the most part, holidays and other days that teachers have off will coincide with days that students have off. Even the day to day schedule often falls in line (or at least very closely) with when kids start and end school. Summers off also allow teachers to spend time with their families, and, for some families, that extra time greatly decreases the need for childcare during the summer months. Teachers don’t have to work graveyard shifts, and their contract time is consistent, making it easy to plan for appointments and other responsibilities.
Reason #8: A creative outlet
One of my favorite parts of teaching was getting to use my creativity. It was so much fun planning lessons and activities that I knew my students would love. I got to decorate my classroom how I wanted. Rather than following a set script, I was able to teach in my own way. Obviously, there was a core curriculum I needed to stick to and teach, but for the most part, how I taught that material was up to me.
Reason #9: A chance for continual learning
Because an educator’s license isn’t good forever, teachers have the chance to attend workshops, conferences, and classes to acquire the needed points to keep their licenses up to date. While this might seem like a dreaded part of teaching to some, it’s really not all that terrible. As educators, aren’t we always promoting the importance of learning? Aren’t we trying to instill in our students the idea that learning is positive and powerful and can take you so far in life? So why wouldn’t we want the same opportunity? The chance to continue your learning is such a privilege. The fact that teachers are pretty much required to attend these extra classes and conferences is actually a really cool thing. The needs of our students change over time, so our teaching practices should change over time, and one of the best ways to stay up to date with teaching practices that are helpful for today’s children is by continuing to learn and research.
Reason #10: Fun is encouraged
I don’t know of a single student who enjoys sitting through a day at school that isn’t engaging and fun in some way. Students crave fun. I think it would also be safe to say that teachers need fun in their classrooms, too. I think so often we assume that the “fun” lessons are mainly for elementary grades. Having many years of experience teaching junior high aged students, I can assure you that older students also enjoy having fun at school! Teachers can, and should, find ways to incorporate fun into their lessons and activities. That’s not to say that every day has to be an all out fun fest from start to finish, because I just don’t know if that’s feasible. But there should be some amount of fun in every school day.
I realize that teaching isn’t for everyone. I don’t think there is a single job on this planet that is for everyone. And that’s ok! Everyone has different skills, talents, abilities, preferences, dislikes, and interests that make them who they are.
Teaching, for me, has always been more than just a job. Sure there are long days filled with grading, planning, and paper work. But overall, it’s a job that is rewarding and filled with so much fun and happiness. The rising generation needs good, solid, trusted adults to help and guide them, and teaching is an incredible way to provide those adults. To teach is to change lives, and that’s a pretty amazing opportunity!