teacher
All about teachers and the world of teaching; teachers sharing their best and worst interactions with students, best teaching practices, the path to becoming a teacher, and more.
Why I Teach
It is 6:30 on a Monday morning as a role over to snooze my second alarm. I’ve never been a morning person; I like to stay up late and sleep later. But as hard as it is I roll out of bed to start my day. I get the kids up to start their school day as well while my wife fixes us some sandwiches for our lunch’s packing in some special treats and notes telling us how much she loves us. She stands at the door holding the baby as the rest of us load up into the car to head to school. Yep, I am a teacher, a science teacher to be specific, but the school I teach for is special.
By Gray Beard Nerd4 years ago in Education
I THINK
I am a philosopher and I love it. That's my job. I think clearly and express my thoughts in my writing. Some writers are therapists, counselors of various sorts and even political advocates. I philosophize and write about sound ideas. If I were to say, 'I love my J.O.B.', you would wonder why I said it. Whether you loved or hated your own work, you would wonder why I loved mine. Human nature seeks the reasons that sentient beings do what they do. We want to know how others get things done. We share fruitful information and knowledge. Philosophers, it seems to me, are the behind the scenes moderators of this sharing.
By Ibraahiym Kadessh4 years ago in Education
Wash the Shit Shield, Change the World
After a near constant screamed stream of profanities, thrown objects, and flipped furniture, I retreated quietly to my car, a little shell-shocked by the unexpectedly volatile day. I thanked my lucky stars for the best piece of advice I’d ever been given, only then fully appreciating the value of it.
By Bree Beadman4 years ago in Education
Learning Curve
It's definitely not as easy as it use to be, and it's certainly not as easy as people think. You'd think that after over twenty some odd years I'd be use to it or at least a little more accustom to it, but you'd be wrong. Every Monday is like the first Monday. When that alarm clock goes off at 5am and I roll over and see those numbers staring at me the first thought every time is, "Oh my God it's Monday again already." Weekends go by so much faster than they use to. Maybe that's because most of them are crammed full with all the things that you needed to do during the week but couldn't because of the hours that you work. Or it could be because you spend most of the day thinking about the fact that Monday is coming again really soon. Either way I get up and sit on the side of my bed, waiting for my eyes to adjust to either the light or the lack there of depending on the time of year.
By Terrence Moore Books4 years ago in Education
Lighting Fires
The writing on the stone is the powerful philosophy by which I find myself guided as a teacher. This stone was a gift to me from a student and it is something I keep close so that I don't ever lose my way in the plethora of pedagogical approaches that teachers have. You see, Plutarch's philosophical definition of education is something I am very passionate about because when it comes to teaching, I don't teach... I light fires.
By Ashley Hansen 4 years ago in Education
No Subject Line. Top Story - September 2021.
“These young people” I sighed after reading the second request for an extension. The e-mail messages came in weeks before the first day of class and before the student even saw the syllabus. I reply politely, make sure I can log in to all the University’s systems and start writing my presentations. Later in the day I commiserate on Facebook with my fellow college instructors about how annoying these young people are; were we like that or did our teachers like us because we weren’t like that? How long will it take for these shenanigans to go from amusing to downright enraging? Its all fun and games, until a parent starts to stalk you because their brilliant child is barely earning a C in the course.
By Shamaine Daniels4 years ago in Education
Teaching is Not for the Faint of Heart. First Place in A Day in the Life Challenge.
I loved my job because I made a difference. First day back to school in 1989 Past tense is necessary because I recently retired after 32 years of teaching in Florida. Once you’ve past the 10-year mark, teaching is in your blood forever. I feel the intense need to correct spelling and apostrophes on signs, and I’ve dangerously Shhhhh’d people at the movies. Retirement doesn’t mean my job is over; it’s simply morphing into different endeavors. Educators in the United States are both respected and maligned, depending on the issue, state, or even day of the week.
By Barb Dukeman4 years ago in Education
Reasons I Teach
As I conversed with my grandfather in the seldom-used patio overlooking his backyard, a story I had dreamed only the night before returned to my thoughts. I quickly acquired pen and paper with which to transcribe my dream, and wrote furiously as I imagined dialogue to expand upon the vague visualizations and feelings. Page after page kept turning in my notebook, and as I neared the end of my visit, I read my story aloud to my eager grandfather. He smiled with admiration and remarked on the creativity I had exhibited. I reminded him of his own mother, my great-grandmother Dorothy. Like her, I have always been drawn towards education, unaware of my familial links to the teaching profession. We are both family-oriented, compassionate, and possessing what my grandfather described as a quiet intelligence. I like to think that I understand her in a way, despite the distance between our two generations.
By Kayla Bloom4 years ago in Education
The Magical Matter of Mindful Music
Every person’s story includes a teacher. I bet by reading that, you are thinking of one or two influential teachers from your past. One of mine was my high school band director, Mr. Hagen. Another was my piano teacher, Mrs. Kayser. Their guidance changed my life. I am honored to be a music teacher, largely because of them. This is my 35th year teaching at the same school.
By Julie Lacksonen4 years ago in Education
I play with kids
His name is JJ, he is 2 years old, with a smile that goes ear to ear. His skin is dark brown, his eyes are light brown, and he laughs with his whole face scrunched together, and his arms flailing. I am a first-year preschool teacher with textbook knowledge and zero real world skills. Barely out of high school, less than 6 months in a classroom, just finding my feet. Up until JJ, I had been having fun, still shocked that someone was giving me a paycheck to play with kids. My days are hugs and giggles, diapers and circle time, patting backs and reading books. I think, my job is cool, I thought, sure I can do this as a career.
By Kavi Warrick4 years ago in Education
