What are your motivations/goals for teaching?

Question

Just wondering what some of your motivations are for becoming a teacher? When you approach the beginning of a course, what are some of your goals? Both for yourself, and for those that you are instructing?

Answer 1

Many teachers will answer this with one of these pat answers:
for the kids
to have an impact on the future
because I love to help others enjoy learning (put subject here)

Yes, I do love kids. Yes, I hope I am having an impact on the future (of soceity, but especially of individuals' lives). Yes, I do love seeing the faces of students learning math and even coming to enjoy its beauty. But, those are fringe benefits to me. I became a teacher because I believe with all my heart that I was called by God to be a teacher. Whatever your plans are for your future, if you follow God's calling for your life then you will be happy in what you do - trust me on this.

Answer 2

I can not honestly say when I knew I wanted to teach, I can tell you that I knew very early on that it was something that interested me. My goal for myself was to be a great teacher, as great as my good teachers and superior to the bad teachers I had. Do I like kids, of course. No one spends that type of time and money on something they have no interest in , especially given that teaching is the ultimate get rich slow plan. What motivates me is the kids I reach. There is a thrill when students come back and say , remember when you taught this or that, my college professor is doing the same thing. I had a parent come in and compliment me. His sister was an ivy league professor of English, His son was in my class in an urban public school. They got into a debate about Hamlet and he stood toe to toe with her and held his ground. His dad said his sister was dumbfounded that he was able to do that. Its those moments I live for. I know each day that I am doing the right thing, but its nice to have it verified. Its great to know my students left me with a high calibre education.

Answer 3

First of all, I loved being in Band as a student and developed the desire to teach band and music because I also loved being around children. Seemed like the natural progression. Secondly, I knew sometime in my future I wanted to be married and have children of my own. Teaching afforded me to be able to have breaks when my children were going to be on break, and also to know my children's friends and their parents. To me, those are all important benefits.

I am now a MS counselor and my goals each year are to be available and approachable for all students, and to help them become well adjusted and confident in how to handle life's daily challanges. Sounds a little lofty, but every day I find several students who need that guidance for various reasons. Kids these days have so much to deal with...divorced parents, drugs, sex, gangs, social groups, growing up issues,... It seems every year brings about more things for kids to handle. I just hope I am able to help those who most need guidance in how to deal with some of this.

Answer 4

When I decided to teach my first thought was what the children would take home. It became stimulating to see a child come back and tell the class that his mommy didn't know that. The more that happened the more enthused I got. It became a passion desire if you will to see the children make a difference in their home lives. It was very rewarding.

Answer 5

Summers off.