Chapter 1: Becoming a Teacher

Joyful

~ Teachers see students complete simple and complex tasks, learn new concepts, win a competition, and graduate.

This is joyful because it shows that you are getting through in a way that is new for the student involved. Seeing a kid graduate who would not have graduated without you could give a feeling that you helped change that students life in a way that will impact them for the rest of their lives.

~When you see a student making progress in your classroom.
When you see a student making progress it means that you are helping things click, helping them understand. For some students learning certain concepts is really difficult, or if you have a learning disabled kid in your class that has a tough time learning certain subjects it is very fullfilling to see them making progress.

~When you really make a difference in a students life.
I consider this joyful because every person remembers that one teacher that made a difference in their life. To be that teacher, the teacher that made a difference, would make me feel like I’m doing something worthwhile.


Not Joyful

~Teaching is demanding, requires leaders who can make multiple decisions during a school day, manage 20-40 students hour after hour.
This is not joyful because it can cause so much stress. It is also not good when you are trying to have a family or move or do anything that takes extended amounts of time.

~Have relatively little control over their work.
This is bad because you have no say in what goes on, even though it is directly related to you. Most schools have guidelines and criteria that they must follow which gives teachers little say in what they teach.

~Underpaid considering the talent and hard work.
This is not joyful because most of the teachers that I’ve known have put their hearts into their jobs and spent many long nights doing correcting and things. I understand that this is part of the job, but most jobs that are demanding in one way of another are paid well to cover the stress of the job.