| It can be easy to go into the teaching profession | | | | themselves or perhaps putting in some money out of |
| having an idealized notion of what the role is really like. | | | | their own pockets to make an excursion happen, just |
| It's true that it is a privilege to be in a position of being | | | | so they can give their students that critical experience |
| able to shape young minds as you guide them down | | | | that will complete their learning in a given subject area. |
| the path of growth and knowledge. In fact, seeing this | | | | Lack of funding also contributes to the general |
| growth in action is the greatest reward that a teacher | | | | overcrowding of classrooms, because less money in a |
| receives. The ability to feed off this positive energy is | | | | school means that less classrooms can be built and |
| an incredibly valuable quality that sustains both young | | | | outfitted properly, and there is less funding for extra |
| and old teachers. There will be hard and tough times | | | | teachers and extra curriculum, |
| when a teacher turns to this quality and applies it as a | | | | Another issue that teachers deal with on a constant |
| survival mechanism, to get through the obstacles and | | | | basis, which you are guaranteed to find frustrating also, |
| challenges that are routinely faced in both the public | | | | is the behaviour and attitude of students, who have an |
| and private school systems. | | | | exasperating habit of misbehaving instead of happily |
| It is important to have the ability to temper the notions | | | | absorbing every scrap of knowledge that you impart. |
| of an idealistic teaching experience against the realities | | | | The problem is exacerbated in public schools, where |
| of the day-to-day world. Otherwise, the difficult times | | | | the proportion of disruptive students who don't care a |
| ahead may prove too much to handle. You should go | | | | whit about the information you're trying to give them is |
| into the teaching profession with your eyes open to | | | | much higher. |
| some basic truths, so that you are prepared in | | | | This creates two problems, because you have to |
| advance to handle some difficult problems and | | | | make sure that the learning of the keen students is not |
| circumstances that are bound to come your way at | | | | severely affected, and you still have to find a way to |
| some stage, if not regularly, throughout your teaching | | | | get through to the disinterested students, as they are |
| career. | | | | the ones in most need of help. You will have to |
| One of the common sources of frustration, which can | | | | develop your disciplinary skills over time to handle this |
| lead to burn out and stress, is overcoming the red tape | | | | issue, and thankfully, more experienced teachers will |
| of school administration, and obstacles in the form of | | | | be working alongside you to help with tips and |
| government regulations. This bureaucracy may at | | | | techniques. It is very important that you recognise this |
| times seem to have been designed to deliberately | | | | challenge in front of you, and have some strategies in |
| impede effective teaching, but the truth is that many of | | | | place so that you are prepared right from the |
| these rules have been built up over time in the best | | | | beginning. |
| interests of protecting both students and teachers. | | | | Stay positive, and focus on those rewarding moments |
| However, knowing this doesn't change the fact that | | | | that will occur during the year, when you really connect |
| the actual task of eduction can often feel like it comes | | | | with a student or see them succeed in something, |
| second to the filling in of forms, to the processes and | | | | because these moments will make it all worth while, |
| techniques for maintaining discipline, and the jumping | | | | and help you remember the great reasons why you |
| through hoops of rules and regulations. | | | | decided to become a teacher [ in the first place. |
| When you first become a teacher, your primary focus | | | | So in summary, teaching is one of the most rewarding |
| is to impart to your students the knowledge that you | | | | professions you can possibly enter. But you need to |
| have in your particular subject or discipline, and to take | | | | remain optimistic, stay positive, and stay focused. Keep |
| pleasure in watching their growth. But there is only a | | | | your head up, and feed on the energy from positive |
| limited amount of time in a day, a week, a semester, or | | | | moments that will occur throughout the year. |
| a year, and it can be endlessly frustrating to have your | | | | The positive moments that I'm talking about include the |
| fundamental purpose interrupted by the constant | | | | thrill of seeing one of your students achieve something |
| demands of disciplinary matters and administration. | | | | amazing, or when you connect with individuals or an |
| Next on the list of frustrations reported by teachers is | | | | entire class and realize that you are also enjoying the |
| dealing with financial constraints, and a constant lack of | | | | incredible journey rather than simply the outcomes. If |
| funding. This is the reason that pay rates are not | | | | you can do this effectively, you'll power through the |
| particularly high, that education programs might not be | | | | tougher times with ease. It's these amazing |
| as comprehensive as they might be, and that | | | | experiences that will give you immense satisfaction, |
| classroom supplies are often lacking. In fact many | | | | and keep reminding you why you decided to become |
| teachers end up buying some classroom supplies | | | | a teacher in the first place. |