The Truth (About Teaching)

I love my job. I say that a lot when I do posts like this, but you have to know it's true. Those cute little kids and all the fun things we do and all those crazy people I work with. Yeah, it's awesome.

BUT! There are some things they just don't teach in school. Some things that the universities and colleges don't seem to have in their budgets to inform those budding teachers about. Here are some of those things.

You work all the time. Like, really. You might be scheduled from 7:30-3:30, but that doesn't always mean you leave on time. If you are one of those people that leave on time, more power to you. I spend more time at work then I do at home, but that's okay. Actually, I work at home, too. So, yeah, you work all the time.

Literally. No one has ever said this. Ever.

Train your bladder. You might not think that going to the bathroom is a big deal or that important to think about when pondering a career in teaching. You never get to pee. Well, that's not exactly true. You can pee when the bell rings, at lunch time, and during your specials. But what if you drink a lot of coffee or try to stay hydrated, huh? THEN WHAT? Then you better make friends with your neighbor because they're all you've got during instruction time.

Paper work. The trees. Teachers killed them all.

Politics. 

Heh. 

Be flexible (and manage well). It's been a while since I've been in school, but I just don't remember talking or learning about being flexible. There's so much planning and practicing lessons, that I think professors forget that kids. Kids ruin all your awesome lessons, man. Think about it for a hot minute. You're on a roll. Kids are engaged, they're raising their hands, answering questions, being nice to each other...and then it happens. It can be anything, really. There can be a spider on the floor, you can trip over your own feet, someone falls out of their chair, or, God forbid, someone farts or something else involved with bodily functions and/or fluids. Point is, no lesson is perfect. You'll be okay. 

Truest story.

Bodily fluids.I mean, while we're on the subject of farting and things...snot, pee, spit...yeah, you're going to see it. Kids put things in their mouths. They sneeze and don't cover it up. Sometimes they pee their pants. (They haven't trained their bladders like you have, okay?) True story: one week I dealt with three accidents. I was not amused. 

Kids are different. Okay, they actually do talk about this one at school, BUT WOW ARE KIDS DIFFERENT. Your class is a melting pot of little minds. It's crazy. Some of them know more than others and some of them know more than YOU. And you get to teach them all, isn't that great? (Yes.)

Parents. Y'all. There seriously needs to be a class about how to deal with parents. Sometimes it very, very difficult. (Because they get very, very crazy.)

Meetings. Basically I'm tired of seeing all of your faces. 

Grades. Who needs 'em? 

So, there are a few things that school doesn't prepare you for. Mostly they're silly and fun, but some of them are true. Teaching is, as I always say, the best job in the world. There are tough times, but the good always outweigh the bad. Even the paperwork and meeting part of the job. I promise. 

Thanks to Kasey, Shawna, Samantha, Mallory, Sarah, Nikki, Stephanie, and Michelle for answering a totally random text and giving me the ideas for this dumb little post. You guys are my favorite. Duh. 

I should probably go do lesson plans or something now, huh? 

XOXO, 

Ashley