Teach On
I’ve gotten several questions lately about my job teaching. For those of you who don’t know, I used to work in university administration. And before that I worked in the legal field. And now, I’m a teacher. Strange path? Sure. But it seems to have landed me just where I belong.
My decision to become a teacher sort of came out of left field and was definitely driven by the economy. I tried to find a university position for six months when we moved to Florida and couldn’t get one. My good friend, Sarah, called one afternoon and mentioned they were looking for a language arts teachers at the middle school where she taught and would that be something I was interested in? Though I hadn’t been looking for a teaching job at the time, as an English major in college, teaching was always sort of on my radar. I would have loved to have taught earlier in my career, but the opportunity just never worked out. For one thing, I didn’t have a teaching certificate or an education degree, so it would have meant going back to school for a while to get everything in order to become a teacher. And with a husband in graduate school at the time, we just couldn’t afford for me to be out of work. So, I continued in the fields that I was most qualified for and teaching never came to be.
When I moved back to Florida, I knew that I could go straight into the classroom because the process to become a first-time teacher in Florida is ridiculously simple. But the state was going through some nasty budget cuts and so teaching jobs were hard to find. When Sarah called though, basically, with a job in hand I felt things just click. I wasn’t worried about starting a new career path. I wasn’t nervous about teaching. I wasn’t even scared that it was a position teaching middle school kids. Right from the get-go, it just seemed natural.
Thankfully, that feeling has continued as the school year has gone on. To say I love teaching is a huge understatement. On my worst days teaching, I still come home loving my job. I like the freedom I have in my own classroom. I like the administration and the way my school is run. I like the teachers I teach with and the people who work in our school. I like coming up with lesson plans. But what I really, really love are the students.
I know that’s cliche. I know that’s predictable. But it’s the truth. I love all kinds of them.
I love the girls that like me and talk to me and open up to me. The ones who love my class and who I naturally tend to teach towards.
I love the guys who think I’m funny and talk to me about sports and who make jokes to me about being pregnant. The ones who try to convince me every single day to let them watch movies instead of writing essays.
I love the students who come from wealthy families, who everything comes naturally to, who run with the popular crowd, and who act like they own the world. Or, at least own my classroom. And though I have to knock them back to earth occasionally, their big personalities teach me a lot.
But the students who I love the most are the ones with major behavioral problems and sometimes even mental or physical limitations that cause them to act out in class. They are the most challenging group of individuals I have ever worked with in any job, in any field. I have 12 year old students who have been to rehab, who have parents in and out of jail, who are basically raising their siblings, who have severe ADD, who have Aspergers, who have recently lost parents, who have never known their parents. And though in my classroom, these things don’t excuse their behavior and they are still held accountable for their actions, as a human being just knowing what some of these kids are up against every day makes me more aware of what motivates their behavior.
Yes, this kind of student often tests my patients and frustrates me more than others, but the reward for that is when, after months of working with them to build some kind of trust and relationship, you see one of them raise their hands in class and give an answer. No matter what they say – right or wrong – my heart just flips over when I see them making an effort. I’m still learning how to teach to these kinds of students. How can I teach them while building that trust? How can I reach them where they are when I’m from such a different place? How can I prepare them, even more than other students, for success? These are the things a new teacher learns and the things that I’m still learning. But I find that learning those things isn’t a frustrating process. It’s such a rewarding process.
The whole practice of teaching fits with my personality, my lifestyle, and my family. The schedule is perfect for raising a young family and there are very few days when I bring work home with me. I get to work an hour early and I usually stay a little late in order to get papers graded and lessons planned, which keeps me from spending much time at home with work. That’s a new thing for me. In past jobs, I brought that home with me. And I don’t know if it’s the fact that now I have a family or if it’s the nature of this field, but work stays at work now and I love that. It makes me a better parent, a better wife, and even a better teacher because I’m focused when I’m at school.
Ideally, I’ll continue teaching as my kiddos grow up and maybe about the time they go to school, I’ll be ready to move up a bit. I could really see myself in a guidance counselor position and, much later down the road, even as a dean. I think I have a knack for working with tough kids and I enjoy that in my day. I’d like to see myself get to a point in my career where I could make even more of a difference with them.
All in all, the switch to teaching has been easy, exciting, and engaging. It’s just one more example of unanswered prayers and unexpected blessings. It wasn’t part of my plan, but it was part of THE plan. And I’m so glad it was.
20 Comments
Mellen
Katie, I would love to know how you don’t come home with work! Maybe it is the older kids? Or maybe it is because you teach in a department & I assume you teach similar lesson plans throughout the day. When I was teaching Kindergarten, I always came home with schoolwork & worked until I fell asleep. I think alot of it comes with the age you work with – I spent most of my extra time @ school cleaning the classroom. Good for you for getting out there & doing what you love! Best of luck with the rest of the year!
Amy
Katie – Thank you for this post! I had been wondering about your job, but I hadn’t gotten around to asking yet 🙂 It sounds like teaching is a natural fit for you… and obvious that it was what you were meant to do all along. So happy for you that all this fell into place!
Jennifer
It such a blessing to be able to love your job like that. I really hope I can be able to say that one day.
Candice
Awesome post. I teach sometimes (would like to do it full-time) and I love all the things that you do – the more difficult the student, the more I love him or her. Even on my worst teaching days, I’m happier than I am after most other work I do.
Katy @ MonsterProof
I have wanted to make the change to teaching a million and one times…but sadly it would require TWO years of education for me. And I have a doctorate! Jealous of your ease of transition!
Lindsay (Young Married Mom)
Those are lucky kids who get you to teach them how to write!
Casey
I really enjoyed reading this post… I am so happy for you that you love teaching so much. I am even happier for your students that they have such a wonderful, caring teacher. It takes a special person to teach our youth, and a really incredible person to have the patience, kindness and toughness to teach those who need a little something extra. 🙂
Jordy
Because we, too, want to start a family soon, I am starting the process of getting my teacher certificate. I’m still working full time, but am hoping to get this out of the way so that when the time comes, I’m ready for the next stage of our life. For those who are looking into it – it’s super easy! I am doing an online program and it will take me two years WITH a full time job. For those that can take more hours at a time, it won’t take near as long.
This post definitely encouraged me and now I am looking forward to it even more!
Janae
You are so inspiring, Katie!
Angela
I’m a teacher too, and I went through an alternative certification program after getting my engineering degree. I teach middle school math and I love most things about it, but I have no idea of how you are able to get it all done at school. Between lesson planning, grading, and all the other day to day stuff (parent emails, updating my class website, keeping my room organized, etc.), I easily spend 3 hours a day outside of my contracted time plus 6 or so hours on the weekend on school work. AND, this is my tenth year doing this…my first year I don’t think I had time to sleep! What is your secret?
Jayne
I was a teacher for about 2 years full time and did part time teaching during school holidays. I have to say that teaching is one of the HARDEST but very rewarding professions out there. I had a class that the teachers dubbed “Safari”. They wouldn’t keep quiet the entire lesson and not only that– they would run around and talk at the top of their lungs, totally ignoring my existence. I remember when I did almost everything I could (punish, reward, cut grades etc..) and then managed to win a few over. That was the moment I fell in love with the Safari class. Many were kids with family problems, some spoilt, some disinterested in a language so foreign to them (I was teaching English in a Chinese based school). Now when I walk down the streets, I know I’d be so glad to hear someone holler “Miss Jayne”. I miss teaching and them pesky kids so much!
allison
you’re very lucky that you were able to find a job that you love! however, i think your students are the lucky ones. i’ll be graduating with my master’s in education this year and i’ll be on top of the world if i get a job for the 2011-2012 school year. there is about 1 job for every 300 applicants where i live!
Jenna
You do indeed have lucky students … their worlds will be better because they have a happy teacher! 🙂
Jenna
You do indeed have lucky students … their worlds will be better because they have a happy teacher! 🙂
Erin
You have such a great attitude about teaching. Your first year is your hardest I promise (I teach pre-k), but it sounds like you’re doing so well!
Mallory
Have you seen the movie, Freedom Writers? If not you should – seems like it’s right up your alley 🙂
Ashley @ A Recipe for Sanity
What a great perspective. Thank you so much for sharing that with us. Your students are lucky to have you, especially the ones who need that extra attention.
Kendra
How on earth do you manage to leave your schoolwork at school? I’m in my fifth year of teaching junior/senior high English, and I work at home for several hours most nights. If there is some secret that I don’t know, please fill me in!
K5 Learning
I’ve been reading your blog for a while now, but this is my first time commenting. I just wanted to say how inspiring it is to hear these words from a teacher. As parents we leave our children in your care for the better part of the day, 5 days a week. It’s so gratifying to hear how much you love and engage with your students – thank you!
Halcuri
I was also an English major in college but wanted nothing to do with teaching. After bumming around the country with my boyfriend (now husband), we both settled in Massachusetts and ended up in grad school for education. We got our Master’s and now work at the same middle school. I never thought I’d like middle school, but I can’t imagine teaching anywhere else. People always cringe when I mention I work with seventh graders but I love it. I also adore teaching literature and writing and this is really a great age.