Why I love Teaching!

A quick summary: a month ago I heard that dreaded pop in the back of my knee as the acl popped for the second time (I was 15 months into healing after the first sprain) and since then I have had two and a half weeks off work and now gone back on a part time basis, with crutches, to try and keep me sane while I heal.? But I HAVE to spend all of my free time resting or it won’t get better.

This has meant that I have missed a few of my classes and my students have had to have cover teachers for a few weeks.? When I started back last week I had so many students ask if I was ok and what I had done.? Once wonderful student put his hands on his hips and said “Mam, what have you done to yourself?!” ha ha.? He cracks me up!

Today I had my lovely year 10 class and as I started to get up to help one, another said “Mam! Don’t get up, we’ll come to you while your knee hurts”.? So thoughtful.

One of my students then came and sat next to me while the others were busy working and asked why I chose to teach.? Before I had a chance to answer, she followed this up with “I knew from the first time I met you that you’d be a teacher.? You’ve just got that thing.? But don’t you get annoyed with us?? I would if I taught”.? This made me smile.? I feel that it’s quite a big compliment to ‘just have that thing’ that makes someone a teacher.? I told her that I love my job, I love teaching and I don’t get annoyed with them.? Everyone learns at a different rate and in a different way.? It’s just about finding out what that is and working with it rather than against it.

They’ve made me glad I am trying to go back to work, even if it is reduced hours.? I am completely exhausted.? Everything takes so much longer than it normally would and I get tired from doing simple things like getting ready in the morning to leave the house.? But with students like these, it all feels worthwhile.

That’s why I love teaching.? They make me smile in the smallest of ways.? I think I learn as much from them as they do from me.