Positives about being a teacher/staying in teaching

[DancingThroughLife02]

I’ve recently got my PGCE and QTS through teach first, which means I’ve got one year of teaching (albeit being my training year) under my belt. I feel like as I’ve been teaching 80% all year, it’s given me a great insight into how other teachers go about doing things, the stress levels associated with the job and the general mood.

Now I’m aware that things do vary across trusts and mine does seem very rigid and micromanagy, but I was looking for positive reasons people stay in teaching post Covid but seem to come across more people leaving. I’m sure that this is just due to people being quite vocal about their reasons to leave - which I completely understand as the stress this year did make me ill at some points, but I genuinely love the teaching aspects and making a difference to children’s lives.

I love hearing them say that they enjoy my subject whereas they struggled previously, or that they look forward to coming to my lesson especially if they generally struggle in others. Of course I get very negative comments too but I want to hear from other teachers who want to stay for a few more years, if there are any.

AIBU to ask for experiences of other teachers who genuinely enjoy their job, what makes it enjoyable and what boundaries have you kept in place to keep it enjoyable for yourself?

Join a Union
Do not check school e-mails at home.
Any email from an unhappy parent, reply saying you have passed their concerns onto the HOY / HOD. When you do reply copy in the HOD / HOY Tutor and Link Deputy.
Learn to say no and NO means NO.(this is a good feeling - one school I was in the HOD threatened to put me on a competency with 27 years of teaching experience behind me.. I asked if she want me to leave that after noon or at the end of the week.
Holidays are holidays.
Stop school work at 8pm. You do not get over time.
Ignore the "OFTSED want to see this in a lesson" The OFSTED inspectors that I have seen in a lesson the majority would not know a good lesson when they see one. It is also possible that they are not a specialist in your subject.

When you are ill phone in sick. The only times I have not done this I have regretted it.
If you pastoral or academic concerns pass these on immediately
If you are in a school and you are thinking, "this will get better" It won't - leave
If you are on medication for stress, anxiety and depression - leave.
Always say yes to senior management and then ignore them once you have said yes. Some are really good and others look very good with clipboards and mobile phones / walkie talkies and are amazing at box ticking although they are not able to think out side the box. This is speaking from experience
Ignore anything that the current education secretary says. Conservatives and Labour are as bad as each other.
If you are in primary - try and avoid the school gate mafia.
Don't do death by PowerPoint / worksheet or video lessons prepared by "experts"

All are the above are not to do with class room teaching. This is the "other stuff" which drags you down.
On the plus side when a student says "Hey I get this" that is an amazing feeling and when you go in on results and see what your students have achieved that is also an amazing feeling. I work in supply in 1 school only and when the students say "Can you come and teach us" that is also a good feeling.

Some schools will be a dream and other schools will be a nightmare. You will know when you are in a good school follow our get instinct.

Remember you know if you are in the right job and / or the right school. The worst thing they can do is sack you, or make life very unpleasant (been there done that), and you go to another school and you will soon realise that it is not you but them.

Teaching is the best of jobs and the worst of jobs.

I love my job. Have been a teacher since 2012. I think it's about getting good at it - planning decent lessons that I are effective - then you feel good about it. Knowing that the more you plan better lessons, the quicker you get at it all... It takes up evenings and weekends at the beginning, but it doesn't now (as much). Actually sometimes working harder is easier than not working harder. Mark those books - it will tell you what they know and what they don't.

Don't take work home.
Plan medium term. Plan sequences of lessons rather than day by day.
Learn to say yes! All the ridiculous T&L things you have to do, agree. It makes SLT so happy and then it's up to you if you actually do them or not. Just smile and nod, and don't be that miserable person who says no all the time.
Teaching has been amazing for me with children. I really appreciated part time work when the kids were small, and holidays off. I also appreciate the pension.
Teaching is so dynamic, you are never bored. I love my subject.

I suppose one of the things I’m really enjoying is how dynamic the job is; having tried to work in corporate, the boredom is actually what drove me to leave.

That’s interesting about learning to say yes, I normally get told the opposite about not saying yes to everything!

I am 20 years in and intend to see it through to the end, most likely in the same school I've been in in the last few years (I've seen a lot of change in education in that time, I assume nothing too ridiculous that's new is on the horizon!).

I have found a school that suits me, on paper it wouldn't be the one you'd choose to work at but the kids and families are mostly really likeable. I live in catchment and it's no bother. We have shared planning without being rigid about it. We have centralised detentions and a meaningful reward system. We have high expectations but they are built around sensible shared classroom routines. The SLT still come out with stupid SLT ideas and things but they are all personable enough that you can have a discussion with them about it (without getting penalised). My kids want to come to school here when they are old enough and I wouldn't have an issue with that.

As I said, on paper it's the last school locally that you'd pick out but the ethos of the school, and the progress we make (if CVA were still a thing we'd be miles ahead) suits me really well. I think if you can find the school that does that for you then you can navigate most challenges along the way.

As for workload etc I have a different approach - if I feel like working (evening/weekend/holiday) I do, because that means when I don't feel like it I don't have to force myself. If that makes sense?

I love my job, I was a career changer and have only been teaching for 18 years. I love the immediacy of it, the change I can make to young peoples lives. I love sharing my biology love and knowledge.
( i fucking hate staff meetings, could nearly always have been an email)

Last year was the hardest year I’ve ever had, but I hope to stay in it for a few years yet. Things I love:

• Having a clear routine to the day/ Never get bored/ clock watch
• My colleagues are my kind of people and are so fun to work with
• I love it when you look around the classroom and everyone is engaged/ listening
• Delivering a great lesson that you have made
• l love the fact I have an excuse to buy lots of cool stationery!
• The sense of family and community you get working in education

There’s plenty I don’t like, but I’ll focus on the positives for now. As for what boundaries I’ve put in place, one of the biggest is that I’m realistic with my bosses about what I can do in terms of workload. If I don’t think I can fit something in or do something, I’m honest about it.

I’ve been teaching since 1994! September will be the 22nd year at my current school. I think the reason I’m still enjoying it is that I’m in an independent school with an amazing English Department where we can, within reason, choose what and how we teach. Experience is also valued here. For me the stimulation of working with students and colleagues keeps me interested. I think I’d struggle if I had to teach to a PowerPoint. I’m glad you’re enjoying it - it’s never dull that’s for sure.

I like all of your ideas except 8pm?? It should be 5pm or 6pm at the absolute latest!

• the buzz and energy of the classroom (when going well!)
• teaching a subject you like/love
• seeing a student (finally!) understand something
• seeing young people flourish
• working with great colleagues
• working with realistic, personable and dedicated SLT/WLT (not always the case!)
• being listened to and treated as valuable
• school holidays to spend with my DC
• mentoring trainee teachers

These factors have kept me going for a quarter of a century now though I must admit I am beginning to feel the strain a bit now!