Real Talk
I have taught high school, junior high, and middle school. I’ve also been a librarian and a religion teacher in a pre-k-8th school. In other words, I have taught every grade there is in some capacity or another, and I have found things to love (and not to love) at every level. For now, I’m taking a break from teaching and here are the things I miss the most about being a teacher.
- I miss the feeling of walking into my empty classroom first thing in the morning and sitting at my not-yet-cluttered desk with a hot cup of coffee–the quiet before the storm.
- I miss crosswalk duty–no, really. I loved starting my morning by welcoming families to a new school day.
- I miss greeting my students as they walked into my classroom, knowing that for some it was the best part of their day so far.
- I miss getting the “wobbly tooth report” from my kindergarteners.
- I miss the way little kids leaned into me when they felt anxious or put a little hand on my shoulder just to touch base.
- I miss seeing the absolute elation of a 10-year-old boy who has just touched the door frame for the first time.
- I miss finding surprise snacks in the teacher’s workroom. Sweet! Someone brought donuts!
- I miss walking backward down the hall to be sure my class stays quiet.
- I miss little people drawing pictures of me.
- I miss seeing the light finally come on after a long struggle to “get it.”
- I miss lunch with my teacher friends.
- I miss chatting with my teacher friends between classes, in the pick-up line, at the copy machine…
- I miss the camaraderie (some might call it trauma bonding) of working with other teachers.
- I miss seeing a room full of children lose their minds because it has started snowing.
- I miss watching middle schoolers try to play it cool when they have a crush.
- I miss being a part of high school kids’ lives right before they launch.
- I miss when a class discussion gets really interesting, and we get sidetracked in the best way.
- I miss reading them stories.
- I miss introducing kids to my favorite characters.
- I miss being there when a kid really needs to talk.
- I miss knowing that I made a child’s day a little better.
- I miss dress-up days.
- I miss recess on the first warm day of spring.
- I miss being around people who are so excited about their birthday that they want to give everybody cupcakes.
- I miss all those Starbucks gift cards at Christmas.
- I miss snow days.
- I miss the way middle schoolers are not quite children and not quite big kids.
- I miss getting a glimpse of the children my high schoolers used to be.
- I miss getting a glimpse of who they will become.
- I miss the school talent show.
- I miss having an excuse to wear t-shirts with book characters on them.
- I miss wearing t-shirts with Shakespearean quotes on them.
- I miss those days when I left my classroom with a satisfied sense of exhaustion and accomplishment.
- I miss being with kids all day.
Of course, there are plenty of things I don’t miss about being a teacher. I’m not trying to idealize a very, very difficult job. Still, in what other profession would I have had such amazing coworkers? What other job would have allowed me to work with so many children–cute, funny, exasperating, challenging, charming children? And what other career could I have devoted my life to that was as rewarding?
Maybe I will go back to the classroom someday. Maybe not. Either way, I am grateful to have been a teacher.
