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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask you to tell me the GOOD things about teaching?

56 replies

DakotaFanny · 03/02/2016 19:24

Inspired by two threads today about why it's a difficult (crap?) job, and generally feeling a bit glum about the whole profession myself...last week I wanted to quit. This week I have accepted that's not going to happen, so come on teachers of the world...

Tell me something great that happened today.

OP posts:

CornishDoll82 · 03/02/2016 20:30

I'm always fascinated when I see teachers denigrating their profession so much. How many of those who have worked in teaching go on to other jobs in the private sector and find just as much to complain about? I'm genuinely curious, having only worked in private sector I think most decent jobs are hard and stressful but also have positive points. Is teaching not the same?

Salmotrutta · 03/02/2016 20:31

Sometimes a teenager says "Thank you" and gives you a Christmas Card/Cake the made in Home Ec.

That's always nice.

Teenagers make me laugh, every day, and are never boring. Even when they are being awful

LemonRedwood · 03/02/2016 20:33

All last year, worked so hard with a girl with selective mutism, alongside the SaLT and my TA running interventions, in the hope that she would be more confident and settle in secondary school. Yesterday afternoon, she came to see me after school and I had my first ever conversation with her (I was her class teacher for 2 years and was involved with her as senco for 4).

She told me that she had some new friends and she was enjoying school. She then said thank you.

It was a very short conversation but one of the best ones I've ever had. I almost cried on her.

Original poster

DakotaFanny · 03/02/2016 20:33

Loving this! It's a great job in SO many ways. We must not forget!

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monkeysox · 03/02/2016 20:34

I worked in an it job before teaching.4 weeks hol per year and it's much more stressful teaching and involves more working hours even factoring in the holidays.

However when a student "gets it" when an hour before they didn't there is no better feeling.
Helping students to achieve grades that give them choices far outweighs making a fat boss richer by the day. No contest.

Salmotrutta · 03/02/2016 20:34

I worked in another career before teaching CornishDoll - but I never had to stand in front of the World's Toughest Audience! (Teens)

MooPointCowsOpinion · 03/02/2016 20:36

My class full of awful 16 year olds have all been taught to swap their swears for innocent words, and I had to suppress a huge belly laugh today when one shouted 'fluffing bunnybeard!' In frustration at the work.

Original poster

DakotaFanny · 03/02/2016 20:39

Haha! That's brilliant Moo! i might try that with mine- they don't even know they're doing it!

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FourEyesGood · 03/02/2016 20:47

Teenagers are hilarious - sometimes deliberately, but usually accidentally.

When they "get" something they've struggled with, it's wonderful. You can practically see the lights switch on inside their heads.

The last day of term is always a massive relief - and that happens six times every year.

Teachers tend to stick together and be very supportive (if you're in a school where this isn't the case, try to relocate to a more close-knit one). My colleagues in the English department are great and keep me sane when things are tough.

Occasionally, pupils express gratitude, and that's always really lovely.

When things are a bit tough, I try to choose a couple of pupils who've done brilliantly at some point in the week, and ring their parents to tell them how proud they should be (for whatever reason - a noticeable improvement; consistent effort; a fabulous piece of work). That always puts a nice positive ending on an otherwise heavy day.

Wigeon · 03/02/2016 20:50

DH is a teacher who loves his job and this week:

His A level students have really improved a technical exercise they have to do, because he's found a different way of teaching it which they have understood and been able to apply. He was really happy!

He thinks teenagers are funny. He has a laugh with him.

There is camaraderie in his department. On the back of the department staff door they stick funny things students have written in assignments, tests etc.

He also runs Recorder Club for Y3 at DD's school (out of the goodness of his heart), and since September they've made hardly any progress and he was getting (uncharacteristically) really frustrated. But this term, they suddenly get it and they are even taking their music home to practice, and they are getting better. He was very chuffed this week.

He loves his subject and he loves spending all day doing stuff to do with it.

He is really proud of how far the school choir he conducts has come along, because of his leadership.

He does have some frustrations about the job, but overall he is really happy.

Highsteaks · 03/02/2016 20:50

I literally never ever clock watch. I used to work in a really boring office job and used to watch the clock moving soooooooo slowly zzzzzzz........

And a lot.of the time it is good fun. My favourite part of most days is the the time between 8:50 and 3:15. The bits around that are fairly shit.

ClaudiaApfelstrudel · 03/02/2016 20:56

I used to teach supply for a while and I absolutely loathed it...but in the spirit of this thread.. I did like the paycheck at the end of it :D

TeaT1me · 03/02/2016 20:58

I keep wondering about jumping into supply teaching and really not sure if I could face it

switswoo81 · 03/02/2016 20:58

I teach junior infants (reception ) I think and I love love my job! Totally understand how tough it can be in some schools but my kids are amazing. I have no ta or anyone else in my class so it's just me and these cracked 5 year olds all day. Today one told me he was having a relaxing day and wasn't doing any work while his neighbour wore a tiara all day!

My 11 month old goes to the same creche as the kids in my class so after school they go in to play with teachers baby!

Twowrongsdontmakearight · 03/02/2016 21:05

Cornish I started teaching after having done what I thought were pressured jobs (Sales and Marketing) but they were a walk in the park compared to teaching.

The best comparison I could think of was to imagine that between 9-12 and 1-3.30 you are in client meetings or presentations. All the preparation, evaluation and planning has to be done before or after then. Also throw in a couple of extra meetings a week 4-5.30 to eat into your time .... Oh and every client at the presentation has to have detailed feedback after every session. And you need to do regular reports on each person's progress every few months.

Letseatgrandma · 03/02/2016 21:06

Afternoon play

CalleighDoodle · 03/02/2016 21:07

twowrongs wtf are you doing 12-1?!

Xenadog · 03/02/2016 21:09

If you want to teach don't do it in the state sector. It's soul destroying. Teaching in a small indie is almost as much fun as it was teaching in a big state comp 17 years ago. Bureaucracy and pressure from the state system coupled with increasingly shitty behaviour from the children means the wonderful job it used to be no longer exists except out of the state sector.

The golden moments of when a child "gets it" are amazing but they aren't worth the rest of the shite. Sorry to be negative.

Tillyscoutsmum · 03/02/2016 21:09

I (mostly) love the bits between 9 a.m and 3.30 p.m. It's never boring and the time generally flies by. I laugh every day. The lightbulb moments are amazing and the holidays are great!

I'm a career changer. Previous job was less stressful, shorter hours and much better paid. Would I go back to it? Absolutely not

teacher54321 · 03/02/2016 21:11

When I worked in a boarding school I spent more time with the kids than i did my own family. Now they're in their twenties and add me on LinkedIn it makes me smile to see all their terribly grown up job descriptions when I remember them being spotty teenagers who I spent all my time chasing out of the common room and into their lessons!
Teaching is all about relationships and people and I love that. I also teach a creative subject (music) so today I've done singing and dancing with nursery and reception, Tudor music with year 5 and reggae with year 8 (a lesson which included writing our own reggae songs and having a rap battle-was hilarious) it's just really good fun.

froggyjump · 03/02/2016 21:14

The kids are the best thing about teaching! I had hardly any time in class today - meetings from 9am - 12.30, and then 2.30 - 5.30 about different things, but in between I made bread rolls with 3 of my (SEN) students, and they were so enthusiastic, working out half amounts for the ingredients, choosing flavourings, kneading etc etc. It was definitely the best part of the day!!

Original poster

DakotaFanny · 03/02/2016 21:20

Yes yes 54321- this week I heard from some very ex students- now aged 28. It was SOOOO lovely to hear their (very positive) memories of school and my lessons. The kids in the classroom are aces....usually.

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Roseformeplease · 03/02/2016 21:28

Two of my pupils were finalists in a national competition. One of them won. The other pupils were so kind and generous in their congratulations. Amazing job.

sonjadog · 03/02/2016 21:37

I work with 17-18 year olds.

Highlights this week include:

Driving a minibus of them to an educational fair an hour away and hearing about the parties and romantic intrigue in the class

Marking end of module essays on Australian aboriginal people and realizing that some of them are starting to think differently.

Being told I was no longer their favourite teacher because I don't like KFC.

Laughing with my colleagues. You have to have a good sense of humour to work with teenagers.

sassytheFIRST · 03/02/2016 21:39

A lovely moment today with my yr13. The teacher I share the class with has been off the last few days - he's had a bereavement. The students know this is why he's been away. He was back today, and popped his head in my door to speak to the class about an admin issue - when he'd left one girl said "it's made my day to see sir back in. I've been bothered about him"; then there was a general convo between all the kids about how they should chop in a few quid each and get him a little present to let him know they were thinking of him. Aw.

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