Welcome back, Teachers

Teacher Ria at The Accidental Teacher wrote a post on the benefits of becoming a teacher.  I thought I'd add to her list a bit, since today is, generally, the first day of school.  Some schools started last week, but you'll know so much more schools are starting today from the difference in traffic and the difficulty of catching a jeep that isn't full.


Teachers, let's remind ourselves, as we should at the beginning of each school year, of all that is great about being a teacher.

1. Watching the students' faces light up when they get what the topic is about.
2. The accomplishments! Their accomplishments are yours as well.
3. Knowing that you had a lot to do with the positive change in your student, even if most of the time you will not get the credit.
4. You have a good excuse to buy more nice notebooks and pens.  
5. You get to test all the games and toys you will be using for teaching.
6. Getting into that creative groove as you make handmade signs, badges, labels for your classroom
7. Planning and going on field trips, and doing recon (or ocular inspections) before the class takes the trip. 
8. Receiving portraits of yourself, done by your students (this is especially true for art teachers);  and having a nice, warm chuckle as you look at yourself in clothes and accessories that you've never actually worn before. 
9. Flattering messages from parents, with anecdotes of their kids (your students) doing something at home - something you taught them.
10. Despite the countless movies and books about teachers, you know that the only people who'll really get what it's like to be one are other teachers themselves.
11. You make at least one difference a day, 5 days a week, from June to March.  Year-round if you teach in the summer also.  
12. Teachers are regarded as social and economic equals of doctors and lawyers. In Finland, anyway (Coyle, D. The Talent Code).  But, hey, if it can happen there, it can happen here.
13. Everyone else gets older, and you never do.

I'll leave it at 13, for now; as there are a few lessons yet to be planned.
There will be no "not-great" things about teaching.  We all know what they are, and we will teach in spite of them, so no point in making that list.

Have a good year!