Thread: You know you're a teacher if.....

Uhg...once more, I hit the quote backwards. I really am not dyslexic. Really.

Concerned parents have always been ready to give a little of their time and energy to help their kids' schools, but it may be a sign of the times when people are offering to give up their summer — or even their blood.

We have discussed this situation alot in our office at school. Eugene is just down the road from us, but the last I heard, we have lost more days than they have! I am in Hillsboro, and we made Doonesbury regarding the 17 days cut from our school year.

We are heading into what is now our last week. I am having mixed feelings--part of me can't believe we are ending so early (when mid-June is normal for us) and part of me is so relieved to be finishing such a stressful year.

Selling plasma might be an overlooked fundraiser for sports..... (just kidding)

I am currently working towards getting my teaching certification. As I observe classrooms and read about my chosen profession I find I am getting increasingly intimidated by the challenges I will face. Not only will I have to deal with being a rookie but I will have to face not having the resources I need. I am also worried as I see how few skills the students that I am observing have been taught (city school students have been taught much less). How can I teach them new things if they don't have the basic skills for me to build upon?

Is teaching all frustration?

Teaching is not all frustration.

There is a big load of frustration. Right now, the frustration level with high-stakes testing, unfunded mandates, and budget issues have reached destructive levels.

There is always frustration, but there are also rewards.

No, you may not have the resources you need. Yes, some of your kids will always come without certain basic skills. Teaching is always a huge challenge.

The rewards come when you see a light go on. When you see a child; a single child, "get it." When they smile at you and rush up to tell you about something important to them. And, just about the time you're convinced that an entire quarter, or trimester, or whatever was a complete and total waste of time, you step back and look at how far they've come. And you realize that they are learning.

Just today, I had a group of last years' students stop their teacher as she was walking them past my class so they could come in and give me hugs, and tell me what they're up to.

And two of my students from 4 years ago stopped by the campus and came looking for me; to give me a hug and catch me up on their lives since they've left our school.

The single moment of reward makes up for countless frustrations.