TEACHERS: Why is teaching important to you?

[poohbear2]

I am writing a paper about why teaching is important to me and it got me to wondering why teachers choose their career. The first reason why I wanted to be a teacher was because I wanted to have a job that impacted society in a positive way. How about you??

 

[mommytotwo]

Being able to have an impact on a child's life, when they are really young and learning, has given me alot of happiness. I had recently seen a yearbook from an elementary school that alot of my preschool students attend, and look back at the memories that I have had with them, and it always brings a smile and thought back to me.

 

[luvdisney81]

I want to have a part in helping raise decent people. I am studying to be a teacher and already wrote why I wanted to get into education. I love my subject and the age I am with. I want them to be independent and a functioning, productive member of society, if I can help then I will. Knowledge is power and to many kids are slipping through. Homes are not what they used to be and many kids just need a little support. Hopefully if I'm good then they will pass this on in some way.

 

[soccerchick]

This will probably get long...my apologies. It is impossible for me to give you all the reasons, but I'll try to give a few...

It is very gratifying to see a that you made a positive impact on another person's life. I teach HS and although I teach a specific subject, students take SOL (standards) and AP tests to see how well I helped them learn it, I doubt that textbook knowledge is the main thing they take away.

There are two goals I have for each student every year: to challenge them so that they are better critical thinkers and better writers when they leave my classroom. If they can do these two things, they can then take care of themselves in college or the workplace.

More personally, I also want them to see a person teaching them who loves learning, loves reading, is fair and honest with others, and is willing to help those who are struggling. Although helping others sounds great, it is often years before you know that you really did have a postive impact. Sometimes the students you think you failed are the ones you helped the most. A student will come back years later and say how much they appreciated me putting up with their behavior/attitude/bad grades and not giving up on them. They are proud to let me know how much they have changed and gotten their acts together.

I stay in teaching for other, more selfish reasons.

1. I have contemplated some other careers, but will probably never do it. With teaching I get summers and holidays off. With small children of my own, this is wonderful.
2. I am always learning, which is very cool for a geek like me.
3. Each year, class, day, and child is different. Things are never boring when you are a teacher.
4. I'm pretty darn good at it. When people pay you to come to a job you love to do, life is good. Sure, my paper load is heavy and the pay isn't going to make many people jealous, but there are more important things in my life than money. That said, I do understand when others leave the profession because of pay, especially in this particular area where the cost of living is rather expensive, real estate in particular.
5. I truly believe people have teaching in them or they don't. I have seen several career switchers come into teaching and fail miserably. These are very intelligent people with great educations and job experiences, but sometimes that little spark is just missing.

Hope this gives you some things to think. Good luck on your paper. Are you already teaching or studying to become one?

 

[poohbear2]

I have been teaching for 5 years but I am working on my masters now. Thanks for your personal reasons. I find it is interesting why people choose the paths they do. I agree with you on the point that just because you are intelligent it doesn't mean you would make a great teacher! I have seen lots of people come and go who are great people and smart but the kids just eat them up.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Unlike most who've responded, I don't teach children or high school students. I teach GED (adult equivalency diploma) to adults who dropped out of school. It's so rewarding to see them come in with their negative self-image and help it go away. Listen to them say the first day, "I wasn't good in school", then have them show someone else how to do something (I really love to see them teach a newly learned skill to some one else). To see them finally accomplish something academically and be proud of themselves is the biggest thrill in the world. That's why I teach.

 

[Disneymomma]

When I first started out, I really wanted to touch lives in an academic way, however, there is so much more to the daily life of teaching. I now try to touch my kids on an emotional level first, and then everything else falls into place after that. I am in an inner- city middle school, which can be really difficult, because so much goes on in their lives. Once they know that you love them, it's smooth sailing. So, teaching is important to me because I love to impact someone's life in a positive way, as corny as this may sound. When I see growth in my students it amazes me, because many of my kids have been so beaten down and are so angry about alot in their lives. When they accomplish something they never thought they could and their eyes light up,I feel so honored to be a part of that. I wanted to have a higher purpose in life,(rather than in my prior profession) and this fulfills me, besides the fact that I believe I was born to teach.

 

[LittleMissMickey]

I teach because it is all I know how to do! J/K, I just feel like it works its way into every area of my life...

Now, why would I not teach?!

How could I leave those children whose eyes are bright and their faces awestruck when learning something new in science?

The ones who begin giggling in a book or who are so taken with a particular book that I need to ask them to put it down during "teaching-learning time?"

The child who is hesitant to ask a question in front of the class, but asks a question during work time that sparks a whole extra lesson?

The child who struggles, and although they may not receive the best grades in the class, works harder than any other child behind the scenes to impress you?

Every child holds a place in my heart. They amaze me each and every day. Although I am only twenty-two, I am certain that these children will keep me young throughout all of my years.

Need any more reasons? I'd be glad to strike up a conversation with anybody about this one, just PM me!

Ashley