When you leave the classroom you forget how hard teaching really is. After a 5 year break from being in the classroom (I was still in education, just not as a teacher with a list of students), I know why they passion burns to be educating young minds. It is like giving birth, it is difficult and painful when you are in the middle of it, but in the end you have such a sweet reward. And you forget. The summer comes and time is spent on new ideas and new lesson plans. Only to start over again in the fall.
Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE teaching! I love being in the classroom as a teacher AND student. I am one of those people that could just be a student forever. When I left the classroom, it was not because I was “finished” with teaching, a unique opportunity presented itself that I needed to take. I missed being in the classroom though. And I told anyone that would listen, if you ever lose the desire to teach, you need to leave education.
Going back after 5 years is not easy though. I might as well be a first year teacher. When I left the classroom, iPhones had not been introduced and iPads/tablets were still just a dream. Although I was showing teachers how to use these things, implementing them is a different story!
Today, I struggle with getting my feet wet with the material I am teaching. I will be glad to have a year under my so I can use it to build a strong solid foundation next year. I have so many ideas, but just getting through a weeks worth of lesson plans is all consuming right now.
But I am still so excited to be teaching again!
Post inspired by What I Forgot When I Left the Classroom (Part One)