When I came home from school in my first year of teaching, I was so exhausted that I collapsed onto my bed. After I had children and came home from teaching, I was still exhausted but did not have the luxury of going to bed.

I have always said that teaching is the hardest job. I still think so. There are some who don't believe this, citing the long summer vacations and the so-called short working day. Well, I say, let them go into a classroom and see if they still sing that song.

I've tried to think about what makes teaching such grueling work. All teachers will have their own special lists. Here are my top 11 reasons.

As a teacher trying to do a good job:

· I have to plan class work in advance but be ready to change these plans at virtually any moment.

· I have to pay attention to a student at a time but need eyes in the back of  my head to observe what all students are doing.

· I have to convey enthusiasm and be encouraging to students even when I am tired and discouraged.

· I have to be alert and seize teaching moments that may not come again.

· I need to be helpful to students, teachers, parents… even when I want to be and actually feel helpless.

· I have to know how to keep order in the midst of potential chaos: I have to be self-disciplined and teach self discipline.

· I need to know how to re-energize and motivate myself so that I can help motivate those  I teach.

· I need to seek ways to learn more about the subjects I teach and improve my teaching abilities.

· I have to know how to encourage students who learn in different ways and who need something different from what  I provide for the whole class.  

· I have to connect with families and to mobilize them to help their children learn.

· I need to open my heart, as well as my mind, to all my students.

Teaching is a very human experience.  It's messy: it doesn't fit into a straight line of "you do this and this is what will happen." Teaching can be very frustrating. It can be very gratifying. No matter what, it is the hardest job.

©Dorothy Rich 2004

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