I know you're out there but I can't remember who all of you are!
What do you teach? How long have you been teaching? What do you love about it/hate about it?
I've been teaching HS social studies (currently 9th and 12th grade) for 13 years. 95% of the time, I love it. I love that it's something different every day and that I'm always learning something new. I also really enjoy (ok, well, most of the time) working with the kids. The only thing that's truly difficult are factors that are beyond my control that can interfere with my job (but that's true with anything).
I don't teach but my husband does. He teaches Law at the local 2 year college. Says it is the most gratifying job he has taught- and the most challenging. He and I love the winter and summer breaks he has from work!
ReplyDeleteI teach 10th grade english to inner city kids. I love it most days because i am helping kids who really need it.
ReplyDeleteI teach immunology, directed studies for undergrads and I also train graduate students. I have been doing this for 12 years. I love what I am doing and enjoy passing on that passion.
ReplyDeleteI teacher primarily grades 6 and 7. You know, right when their hormones are going CRAZY! I have to say, I do love it. So I teach all subject areas but do lots on global citizenship...my passion. The hardest part of the job is dealing with parents who think their kids are freaking perfect. I've been teaching for 11 years, and I feel like accountability has gone down the tubes. But I have to say, I love making a difference in the lives of my kids who are at risk. Being there for them, when nobody else is, is really rewarding. That is my favourite part. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if it counts, but I'm a part-time volunteer teacher. I team-teach 3-5th grade Sunday School with 4 other teachers, so we rotate, and each person teaches about once a month. I also just started volunteering as a weekly music teacher in Kindergarten. (30 min/week, same class each week.)
ReplyDeleteI'm learning as I go, and some aspects are easier than others. I'm really glad I'm doing it, though. It keeps me in touch with how much I enjoy children, and reminds me why I want kids of my own.
Can I chime in? ;-)
ReplyDeleteI also teach social studies, 6th grade right now. I taught 7th grade for 5 years and loved it! 6th grade? Eh, not so much. The difference in their development is AH.MAY.ZING. Crazy!
And, I have to say (this is not WHY I do it), but I do love the summers off and all the other breaks we get!
And, BTW, I'm so happy for you, Kelly! You deserve this so much and I just cannot wait to hear about all the joy you will continue to experience!
I teach high school math at an alternative school (for students who have been suspended from their home campuses). I've been teaching for 7 years, and I teach from 8th-12th grade. I love teaching because I feel like I do make a difference in these at-risk kids' understanding of math concepts - the smaller ratio gives the students more one on one time, and individualized attention. I love seeing the light bulb go off in their heads. I do not enjoy the aspect of teaching where the kids bring all of their (by high school) myriad negative experiences with education/teachers, etc. and assume that school is not for them. The negativity is overwhelming sometimes. I also do not like the amount of emphasis placed on the state standardized tests.
ReplyDeleteI'm VERY excited for you and have been thinking good thoughts for you for months!! -Carrie
Hey! This year I teach second grade. Since I am low on the seniority list I get bumped around a lot. I taught 3rd grade for two years and then first grade last year. So really I am just working my way through all of the lower elementary grades! The thing I love most about teaching are the relationships with my students. The population of the school I work at has a very low socio-economic status so my students kind of rollercoaster lifestyles at home. Being able to provide consistency and structure for them while they are at school is totally worth it. The thing I don't like about teaching is the long hours. A bigger pay check would be nice too!
ReplyDeleteI teach high school math (this year is Pre-Calculus, Trigonometry, Discrete Math, and Algebra II), and this is my 12th year. It is also my third as department chair, so I am responsible for budget requests, room assignments (look at that: I got my own room two years in a row!!). I absolutely love it. I love the kids, I love what I teach, I love summers off, which helps us be able to travel.
ReplyDeleteI do not love admistrators with no backbone, I do not love state tests.
I also love when a kid has a major attitude at first and I do something to bring them around to being nicer, at least to me. And I love when I look around my classroom and EVERY kid is working, or involved in the current activity. It's a good feeling. And I feel really good about choosing a career that I love, when most of my friends hate their jobs. They don't like them beyond being a money source.
I teach college chemistry from freshman through senior level. This is my 12th year teaching. (Is that right?! How the hell did that happen?)
ReplyDeleteI love figuring out ways to explain things to my students. I love the looks on their faces when they suddenly understand. I love learning new things along with them. I love following my majors from freshman year to senior year as they become "adults" and go off into the real world. I love when they come back several years later and they're more like colleagues than students. I love when students come back to me and say "thank you." I love the oxymoron of rigid flexibility that comes with teaching. I love the student groups I advise outside of class and my research students.
I hate dealing with some colleagues who don't love what they do and don't put in the effort they should. I hate the few students who don't try at all and who don't appreciate what I'm trying to do for them who sometimes make me forget the 95% of them who actually do care.
Mostly, though, I love what I do.