Good things about teaching and schools

[MaisyPops]

Inspired by a discussion on another post, I thought I'd start a thread for teachers (and parents if you are the lovely, reasonable, supportive majority) to talk about good things in schools or share positives that have happenes recently.

So for me:
I love mentoring NQTs. They come up with loads of new ideas and (even if some forget that the 'new' idea from uni is a repackaged version of something we did 5 years ago) it is really good to remember old things and pick up new takes.

I also want to hi 5 the parent I spoke to about their otherwise nice child suddenly developing some kind of 'Kevin' attitude. They were mortified, completely supported me and we have plans in place should the child decide to keep up this new found rude angst. To tjat parent I salute you and you were thr subject of staffroom chatter. One of my colleagues said they wish more were like you.

The kids in my class. They're funny and keen to learn. I keep going for them, even when the OS seems overwhelming.

Teachers are great. I couldn't do their job in a million years.
They teach my DDs a whole host of stuff that I don't know about.
And the pastoral support staff are ace too.
to you all.

That’s a nice idea.

I love my class. They make me laugh every day and their achievements are making me very proud.

I teach singing to the whole school. Nothing beats 400 children singing together, tunefully and passionately.

I love my colleagues too. I’ve worked at the same school for 10 years and it’s been a real labour of love since we opened as a brand new school. Almost without exception my colleagues are fun, hard working, hilarious and they really know how to party!

This makes it sound really rosy. There’s a lot of crap too, including working hard to get out of RI but these are my best bits.

Oh, there's so much good stuff.

The children's sense of humour and the way they put up with my silly jokes.

The parents who always back me up when necessary, are polite and appreciative and recognise that I am only human (and this is the majority of them).

Story time... I love it so much, 30 small people hanging on my every word and groaning when I leave them on a cliffhanger.

And my amazing colleagues, whether they're TAs, teachers, MDAs or office staff... all constantly positive and caring and doing their absolute best for the children.

That moment when a child ‘gets it’

GCSE results day

The shared sense of purpose and camaraderie with colleagues

—Holidays—

Actual teaching is great - shut the door, turn off the endless emails and get on with discussing Keats or whoever.

I teach singing to the whole school. Nothing beats 400 children singing together, tunefully and passionately
Wow! That sounds amazing.

That’s a nice idea Thank you. I've just found myself getting irritated on a few school threads lately and figured that those kind of things are the crappy bits of the job but nobody (teachers included) starts threads just because it's something nice.

Maybe I should have put tbis in AIBU for more traffic like "AIBU to think that most teachers and parents are great and actually have loads of fabulous things they could talk about but we get too bogged down dealing with rubbish'

Also, I find children much more positive to be around than adults. I worked in offices for years and find the children to be much more uplifting than the adults I was surrounded by all day despite liking and respecting those adults and enjoying my office job.

I can’t resist a ‘challenging’ child. After a difficult few months with a child with severe anger management issues, he voluntarily gave me a hug today. I had to hold the tears back.

Maisypops It really is amazing! When we master something challenging, or they sing something sensitively... well... I have been known to shed a tear or two!

I feel very positive about my dd13's comp as she seems to be happy and thriving there and that means everything to me, especially as she was less happy at primary (due to a few mean kids, not the school.) So much work and skill must go into running a school of that size smoothly enough for kids to learn/be safe/happy/thrive. Her form sound quite good natured and nicer than the primary one too. Phew!
Dd10 seems to really enjoy primary and is thriving too. I'm grateful to the school for that. They put in so much effort with fun extras. She is lucky with her class teacher. Not many years of teaching experience under her belt judging by her age, but she sounds like a natural at teaching. Everything fully under control. Dd was delighted to get her.

opal What a lovely story.

We need more of these. Getting happy threads off the ground is always wya more difficult than GF / negative threads.

I have a truly amazing class this year. They want to learn, are lovely to each other and make me laugh every single day. It means I can experiment with teaching a bit and try out new things as I know they won’t lose the plot. I want the year to go slowly!!

I'm currently teaching maths in a post 16 setting. Last week a student said, "I understand that, I never understood it at school".

Best feeling in the world.

when you focus on the kids. Pit aside the crap and actually have chats with the kids. I find teenagers lovely most of the time and funny too. I teach drama so am often in the position of having tears running down my face. One annual Musical got a full standing. 200 people clapping and cheering the talent of your kids is priceless.

"Well", says L, a kid who claims to hate reading and to have never liked a book, "that was BRILLIANT". Well done Michael Morpurgo, L liked Private Peaceful, and is now reading War Horse.

The lovely kids in my Year 7 class who read the end of A Monster Calls when I couldn't (why I thought that book would be ok when I lost my mum young to cancer, I don't know).

That's just this week.

I love a top set Year 8 (Maths). They are keen, bright and not yet grumpy teenagers. I took mine out of the classroom loads a few years ago, doing circle geometry, treasure hunts etc. Could always rely on them to not disappear and to come back with the work done.

One of my favourite classes last year was Year 9 Set 7. It was a small class so I really got to know the students. To see one particular student go from "I hate Maths and I'm rubbish at it" to "I really enjoy lessons now, thank you" made my year.

I have a nice rapport with my 6th form classes (most of the time!). It's been great chatting with them about uni interviews and their future aspirations.

I love my subject.

This year I have a brilliant form who will have a go at all of the activities we do, even if they are not keen. Some of the insights they have shared with their classmates and me have been remarkable, given their age.

My department keep me going when I doubt myself.

And I love love love having the holidays with my own dc.