No matter what anyone says about teaching, it is the greatest profession in the world. It is so rewarding and so much fun.
I get to literally play with kids for a job, or at least that's what it feels like. There are definitely many opportunities to plan games into your lessons, but even when you're not literally playing games, you are having fun most of the time. When you're a good teacher, you plan lessons to be engaging, fun and enjoyable. When students are engaged and participating, there is no better feeling. My favorite moments are when a student is so close to that higher order response and with your follow up questions they make it there. I am so proud of my students in that moment, and the feeling can't really be described to someone who doesn't share that passion. Teaching can require a lot of energy, but I can not wait to wake up and play all day.
Teaching is so much fun, and when your classroom is student centered, it is not even that exhausting. Good teachers are facilitators rather than lecturers. You get talk with your students and watch them utilize critical thinking, analyze interesting topics, create amazing things, interact with peers and become little social butterflies; You get to watch them transform into amazing little human beings who you know can accomplish anything they want to.
When teachers have a positive and supportive environment in their classroom, students thrive. They help each other, compliment each other, empathize in the sweetest way that will make your heart melt, and will trust you. They will tell you their "secrets" (read: their dog's name or their favorite ice cream flavor (and also the deeper stuff that can break your heart)), they will make you things, they will tell you how much they love you, and it is the greatest feeling - when you have that love for your students, there is nothing more rewarding when all the effort you put in to community and relationship building comes to life with their love, joy, and empathy.
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