Lighthearted - why is your subject/age the best?

[TheLetterZ]

I teach physics. It is unquestionably the best subject. It ranges from the scale of the Universe and colliding galaxies all the way down to subatomic particles. It is the central science that underpins all the others.

It is also an amazing door-opening subject. Leading not only to physics and astronomy but all the engineerings, material science, earth science and geophysics, environmental science and climate, meteorology, optometry, medical imaging. Plus after degree all the finance, accountancy, management consulting etc....

I teach 13-18 when we can really start on the big questions and concepts.

So, why is your subject/ age the best?

I teach Sex Ed, PSHE, and all things gritty to 11-18 year olds. I’m technically not a teacher, I work in a pastoral role. I have my own timetable, and deliver whole school assemblies on my own. I can cover anything from bullying to period poverty.

I would love to train to be a PSHE teacher and “teach” this subject alone. (Related degree). I’ve looked into it though, and it doesn’t seem to be possible.
I have no interest in teaching any other subject to be honest.

I am planning on leaving soon to become a psychological well-being practitioner in the NHS. Similar pay scale to teaching. I’ll forever miss this role, but I would like to earn more money.

Sorry forgot to add,
I love teaching the things I do as I know I truly do make a difference in young people’s lives. I may not serve them academically mind.

I’ll never forget the day when one young boy informed me he presumed hardcore porn was just “normal sex” and thanking me for teaching him that it wasn’t.

That’s just one example from the top of my head.

@Illusionordelusion have you looked into the assessment only route into teaching? That might be an option

Such a shame that a dedicated PSHE role doesn’t usually exist. Mush better to be done by someone who is clued up and keen on the role rather than a timetable filler!

Year 3.

Did 6 for almost 10 years, then found my niche. Just starting to get humour, but don't get innuendo (means you can have some adult jokes with TAs), becomes obvious what is developmental, what is SEND, so you get to put in place things that will change their future in education. You can start treating young kids like 'grown ups', which most of their parents don't yet, which helps the bond.

English. Year 10 upwards for the past 6 or so years, thankfully.
Knowing how choices of words can vary impact, and opening students' eyes to other places and people and their stories makes the apostrophe murdering almost worth while. There are some books where you can predict the students' reactions to the line - the end of "of mice and men", the death of Piggy, God's punishment of Satan, the Challenger speech... I love it.

Drama. It gave me a reason to stay alive as a teenager and I love sharing its power with young people. It engages the intellect, body and emotions. It is political, poetic, physical, imaginative, inspiring, heartbreaking, hilarious, the list goes on. The use of the body is particularly important to me, when so much of education involves engaging brains only. Just learning to stand up straight and breathe properly can have a massive impact on mental health and confidence. Not sure how I'm going to manage all that in a classroom with kids facing forwards in rows...

English. I particularly enjoy GCSE and Alevel lit due to the texts but one of my fave moments this year was with a Year 7 class (this will put me for anyone I know in RL).

Was reading the penultimate chapter of ‘Private Peaceful’ and heard a sniffle. Looked up to see a girl with tears streaming down her face, looked around and saw 31 other wet faces and I started to read up too.

Adore the power of literature.

*tear

I can't read Private Peaceful (or OMM or LOTF) without my voice wobbling. Or Death of a Salesman or The Crucible...

Agree with Private Peaceful! I first read it too young at 9 and it wasn't until I reread it at about 14 I realised the ending was literally them heading off to the Somme and a probable massacre. Film is great as well!
Year 2 is lovely as most can generally read/write and are vaguely independent (mostly wipe own noses) but they're still very cute and behaviour is mostly good. I love how much they mature as well throughout the year!

TheLetterZ, I teach physics too and completely agree with your OP. The thing I love most though is that within a topic (or even a lesson) you flip from the blatantly obvious (massive objects need more force to get the same acceleration) to the completely counter-intuitive (without any forces a moving object would just keep going forever).

I do think it would be lovely to teach some books though. I’m still not really over the ending to Noughts and Crosses (I read it ages ago), and our year 9 generally love that book.

Early Years - a constant stream of the quirky, the bizarre, the ruthlessly honest and the unexpected. Every time you think you've thought of all the possibilities the little darlings come up with a new one! (Remembering the child reclining in the trough urinal!)

Another vote for Early Years!

The complete open minded attitude is wonderful. All things are possible and they have really unique ways of viewing the world.