Today is Why I Teach

Its days like today that remind me of why I teach; the children behaved well, they participated and they were excited about what was being taught. I can go home today knowing that I did a good job and that I was effective. It is a rare thing in a Title 1 School when the whole day goes by and all is well....no major catastrophes...what a concept! I swear, sometimes I feel like I have a drug addiction. I get such a high when all goes well and the world is coming to an end when it doesn't, but those highs are soooo high. There is nothing like a child looking back at you smiling and participating in whatever it is you are trying to teach. Even if they have a hard time getting the concept, the mere fact that they are trying and wanting to succeed is enough to send you to the moon. It is amazing!!!!

So the question of the day is, how to we survive the low days? (Teachers are quiting in their first 5 years.) How do we stay positive in an atmosphere where we get little or no support??? Where teachers are at their wits ends just to get kids to behave, much less learn??

I can only say this: we MUST stick together, we MUST support each other and we MUST work together, because we are all we have.