How Do You Feel About Being a Teacher?

"Being a teacher is a calling; you can be successful in other occupations, but you will not find the satisfaction you will derive from making a difference in the lives of your students. To be a highly effective teacher, you must fully immerse yourself in the profession."

-- Kenneth Bass, Head of School at Xceed Preparatory Academy

"Building positive relationships with students so they want to be there and learn is extremely rewarding. You know you have them when even the toughest kids never want to miss a day. When a sixth grader comes to you only able to read his name and he leaves you [reading] at a fourth grade level -- those drive you to continue. Or when your students reach out to you years later to say thank you."

-- Shannon Karcher, Special Education Consultant

"The classroom really is where you figure out whether teaching is for you, not university. So, try to get into the classroom and get the responsibility of teaching some classes as soon as possible -- even if it's just to volunteer for a while before you apply to college. You don't want to get three years into a degree before you step into the classroom and realize it isn't for you."

-- Chris Drew, Senior Lecturer at Teesside University and Study Guide Blog Writer

"I wish there was a course on dealing with parents. Sometimes they need some extra care and communication."

-- Uneaka Daniels, Reading Specialist, English Language Arts Teacher, and Literacy Coach

"The biggest surprise in my early teaching days was that many parents view teachers as glorified babysitters that get cushy, paid summers off. This could not be further from the truth. The two months off during the summer are spent planning for the next school year and attending required professional development."

-- Tonya Lawson, Founder and CEO of Dr. Lawson's Music Studio

"Teacher burnout is real. It may be even more real now because of COVID. Prospective teachers need to set boundaries. You can't live at school and you can't bring all your work home with you either. It is easy to blur the lines, and this leads to increased stress.

"When I taught, my best hours were early in the morning. I would go to work early and leave at a decent time to have my time with my family. It took me many years to get my rhythm and to create these boundaries."

-- Shannon Karcher, Special Education Consultant

"One of the biggest things I wish I had known before getting my teaching degree is how much of the job isn't actually about teaching. Teachers spend a lot of time planning lessons, correcting work, assigning grades, and handling classroom management and behavior challenges."

-- Sarah Miller, Homeschool Teacher and Consultant

"I think the diversity of skills you develop in a teaching degree is really underestimated. You're not just going to learn how to teach. You will learn to speak in public with confidence, adapt to new situations, be a leader, handle stress, and empower others. These soft skills could make you a great teacher. And if life takes you down another path, these skills will still serve you well in a diversity of different professions, too."

-- Chris Drew, Senior Lecturer at Teesside University and Study Guide Blog Writer