Why did you become a teacher, was it for the long holidays?
Why did you become a teacher, was it for the long holidays?
Yes, of course it was. That was a huge factor, but it is not as shallow as it sounds.
I got told off when I was small when all my year 4 class mates were sharing their future career goals. I had thought long and hard about what I wanted to do;
“I want to be a mummy and have lots and lots of children”.
My dad was not supportive of my career plan, “Don’t be so stupid, that is not a career”. First reality that life can suck.
I did want children and knew when I had them, they would be my World - they are. I also knew I would want to take them on lots of adventures, long holidays together allows this.
My Degree is in Psychology and Expert Systems. The latter part is described by Dr Google as ‘in the UK, a degree focusing on expert systems was a specialised undergraduate qualification within Computer Science or Artificial Intelligence departments, designed to train "knowledge engineers". At that time, expert systems were a mature, practical branch of AI used to emulate human decision-making in specific, narrow domains (e.g., medical diagnosis, financial analysis, engineering).’
I may want to a Forensic Psychologist - would mean more studying and fighting for a place in one Uni accepting only a small cohort. And I was broke.
I may want to venture further into AI - then I would most likely need to relocate to US. I did not want to do that, but my goodness I would be loaded now if I did. But I was broke then, and could not even afford the plane ticket!
But I didn’t, I became a school teacher, teaching Maths to Secondary School children. I love the students, especially the ones with spirit and character, who struggle with the outdated and inappropriateness of some schools. And I love Maths - yes the ‘Golden Hello’ (£3000 after one year of teaching a shortage subject) worked.
I love teaching Maths to students who have had their confidence bashed somewhere previously, and I can help them feel more confident, and able, I teach them tricks - fun Maths - some even enjoy it.
And I love teaching Maths to my crazy monkeys who share my passion for LOVING Maths. They excitedly tell me beautifully nerdy Maths facts or jokes or run in showing me they’ve completed the super hard GCSE I gave them, just for fun.
Most of these students will go on to far exceed my level of Maths ability - little geniuses.
Maths is a life skill and is more than just numbers! Getting locked in a room and working how to get out is problem solving = Maths.
We recently took our children to an escape room - they absolutely loved it, and the dude in the camera was very impressed with my 11 year old’s problem solving skills’. I would definitely recommend, or board game cafe - or buy a family escape room game - there are loads of ‘games’.
People who claim ‘I can’t do Maths’, are basically saying that they can’t problem solve, or tell the time, count money, spot patterns etc.
It is a silly thing to say.
Everyday Maths is everywhere. Maths is life. Everyone does, and can, ‘do Maths’.
Maths GCSE is a different story, for a different time.
Things I love about being a teacher;
-being off and returning to one of the ‘delightfully challenging’ students making the best paper aeroplane for you
-having a student draw the most incredible picture of you on their year 7 taster day
-all the thank you notes you get from students and staff
-a student sharing a completely inappropriate story about their chicken half way through the explanation on how to expand brackets.
-being able to reassure and boost the confident of staff and students
-reading little messages in student’s assessments
‘you have not taught me this’,
‘I forgot, sorry!!!!!!!!!!!’,
‘my hamster is poorly’
-hearing about all the marvellous opportunities on offer to them during their life at school, and beyond
-having a talented student pop in to signpost you to their new song on Spotify
-never losing that connection - years after teaching students, they still wave to me when they are passing by my classroom (which can be sometimes 4 times day if they are bored in other lessons!)
-watching them grow from nervous year 7 (11 year olds) to confident year 13 (18/19 year olds) students
- oh, and the holidays!!! Which are much needed! 34 children in one room is a lot, especially when you are trying to teach them Maths