Why do you teach?

Question

Teachers!

What inspired you to become a teacher? What subject do you teach? Why did you pick that content/subject?

Basically, I want to hear your story.

Answer 1

I have taught math and science at the middle school level for the last 24 years. I taught special education for eight years before that - so I have 32 years in the field. I love teaching because no two days are alike. You never know what to expect and the emotional challenges are tremendous - especially these days. I love interacting with people and love the challenge of the constant learning that is involved with teaching. People who think teachers get into the field - make a few lesson plans - and teach these year after year are deluding themselves. It is hard work to keep up with changes in technology, content, etc. Most of us work 50 - 60 hours per week - but still love what we are doing. How can you not love a job where you get e-mails, visits, and letters from kids who are now adults and want you to know how much you changed their lives? It is the ultimate high! Also - in what other jobs do you get to talk all day to a captive audience? It's great for us extroverts! I plan to stay another 8 years which will make 40 for me. I can look back at my life and say I made an impact - not much money - but a real impact. That is something.

Answer 2

Well, first I have to say that if "Jenny" is going to post here, she should really have her facts correct- and she doesn't. I do not get three months off. I do not get paid for any of the summer time I am off. When I retire, I do not get almost 100% of my salary unless I teach for 35 years. When I retire, I will not get insurance paid for at all. My husband who has only a 2 year degree makes more than I do with a Master's. Jenny, you have such anger and disgust for teachers you should get some serious therapy to work on this anger. Second, since you really know so little about teachers and teaching, I would like to suggest you spend some time "shadowing" a few teachers, then come on here and answer for us. I guarantee you will have a different attitude.

Now to the question. I became a teacher because I had always wanted to be one. When I was in high school I volunteered at the elementary school next to our high school. The teacher I helped told me she thought I would make a good teacher. She wanted me to try it so much, she gave me vouchers to pay for my first quarter at the local university. Although I get really frustrated over a lot of issues, many that are exclusive to the inner city where I teach I couldn't imagine teaching anywhere else. I spend between$500 and $1000 of my own money every year. I am lucky to have a husband who understands and doesn't care. I have taught for 27 years. Mostly primary. For the last 3 years, I have taught 5th, 6th and one class of 7th. I love the change.

Answer 3

When I was 8 years old I knew I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up. My teacher was the coolest. I knew I wanted to be like her and have my own classroom.

I teach today because I care. I want to help others. I want to be a role model for children.

Teachers complain a lot. Yes. But it's because they CARE. If they didn't, they'd quit instead of hanging in there and complaining all the time. They care about the lack of actual learning going on w/ all the test prep focus these days. They care about their kids and what they can and can't do for them.

I wanted to teach 2nd when I finished college. I thought it was because it would be a good age. I didn't know squat about curriculum....most new teachers don't until they are hired at a school and told what to teach. I was hired for 3rd and thought I'd hate it. I just kept thinking I had to get through the year and could move to 2nd the next year. I taught 3rd for 4 years. I loved the kids. What a great age. After 4 years I was so bored with the curriculum of that grade that I was able to move to 2nd. Now I've taught it for two years. I have found I love the age of 3rd and the curriculum of 2nd.

I know myself. I know I lack the patience to teach 1st or K. I know I am too controlling to teach higher than 5th. So I teach what I do becasue I know what I'm best at and most capable of.

Answer 4

I know it doesn't sound too good a reason, but I am a teacher because there is really nothing else I can think of doing! I feel comfortable in front of a classroom, I like seeing the spark light up when students understand something new. I like chatting and having fun with a group of teenager. I like to think I can make a small difference in someone's life.

I teach ESL in French-Canada. Though some of my students hate English and many refuse to admit they have no choice learning it if they want to do something with their lives, it is fun. It provides lots of interaction, and I can basically talk about anything and teach them anything, while doing it in English. I especially enjoy talking to them about the history of English (the UK and the US) and some world geography. It's the most polyvalent subject, and I love it.

Answer 5

Teaching was an accident profession for me. I never considered it. I would not even have laughed at it as a suggestion. As (fate?) would have it I got a call from an old professor asking me what I was doing, he had an opening for one year. At the time I was bored with my job and took his job.

I have loved it ever since. I have never minded one day having to go into school. I could teach year round (but I do love summers). It seems as though I just started yesterday, although it has been 29!!! years.

I just got a masters in technology and feel even better about teaching.

I taught all ages, but love middle school the best. I have taught middle school science for 26 years.

Why science. you ask? Because it just amazes me what goes on all around us and what is responsible for so much of what we do.

I think when I leave it will be horizontal.

Answer 6

It is a job. I am very good at it and it does me good to see a student of mine succeed. I work in the transportation industry and teach cab drivers. In a city that does little to support these drivers, I am extremely happy to work for a company that offers this support. In a community with about 500 drivers, I estimate that I have trained over 300 of them. I have been doing this for about 15 years.

Over the last 40 years or more, most of my jobs have involved teaching and training. One of my first jobs, right out of high school was as a Red Cross Water Safety Instructor (WSI) I taught, not only life saveing and water safety, I taught the instructors. Since then I've trained electronic assemblers, technicians, engineers, managers, forklift drivers and who know what else.

I have designed and written curriculum for school level K through 12 and some colleged work.

Answer 7

OMG, Jenny just made me so mad, teachers work harder than many occupations......The part time thing? I work at least 14 hours a day and I teach summer school, on my days "off" in the summer (about 3 weeks), I take professional development classes unpaid. oh, don't EVEN get me started. anyway, to answer your question, I've been teaching special ed. for 24 years and I guess I got into it because I went to high school in a rural district and we had 1 mentally challenged girl in my class that was just passed along with D- just to get her through school (this was before PL94-142) and my classmates just TORTURED her. I was in her PE class and I was horrible to watch how the girls treated her. I never stuck up for her. I now teach the "underdogs" and stick up for them. When they make gains, I feel as if I've walked on the moon or climbed Mt. Everest and danced around the top.

Answer 8

I had a teacher who showed me that teachers are real people, just like everyone else. He was available to talk to before and after school and genuinely cared about me, not just about my schooling, but my life. That's why I chose teaching, maybe I can make a difference in someone's life like he did to me.

I teach history because I absolutely LOVE it!! It's so exciting and interesting and I actually enjoyed it in high school. History is so much fun and I love watching biographies and learning about the history of our country and presidents. I could go on forever.

Answer 9

I teach because I care about the future of this nation/ world. I am an elementary teacher so I teach all subjects.

Answer 10

Both of my parents were teachers. I grew up in an environment othat appreciated and valued education. I always wanted to be an elementary school teacher, but I "stumbled" upon special education and fell in love with it.

I have students with mild to moderate mental retardation, severe disabilities and autism. I tend to go to the more "severe" end of the disabilities spectrum, because I feel that it is where I can do the best work. I love the kids that I work with and wouldn't trade it for the world.