Tip #3: Teaching is not settling...

"In a completely rational society, the best of us would be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for something less."- Lee Iacocca

It's ironic that I became a teacher, because I definitely didn't grow up dreaming about it. I was not one of those kids who just knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up. And teaching seemed to be something that a lot of people around me tried to steer me away from. "Teachers don't make good money," or "The teachers I know always look so tired," were some comments I remember hearing from some friends and family as I went through highschool and university. But the words I remember the most came from a doctor I went to years ago: "Those who can't DO," he explained, "teach."

What he said stood out to me because it scared me. He didn't know that I was heading in the direction of teaching at that time, and I thought, what if he's right? I mean, maybe some music teachers become teachers because they couldn't cut it as musicians, or some English teachers became teachers because they just weren't quite good enough to write a best seller, or...?

But once I started teaching, it didn't take long for me to realize that becoming a teacher is not about settling, especially if you are striving to do it well. Teaching is not easy; it takes skill and a certain kind of person, or particular qualities, to be able to teach well. To me, choosing to teach doesn't mean giving up an art form that one is afraid to pursue for something easier. I believe that teaching, when done well, is an art form in itself. It takes a lot of creativity and talent, as well as hard work and a different level of understanding about people, about learning, and about how to tap into those different types of learning.

Not everyone makes a good teacher. And that's okay, because not everyone wants to be a teacher or is meant to be. And we need all kinds of people in the world- teachers or not. I can think of some family members and friends who are amazing cooks, or who know how to fix things well, or who have a wealth of knowledge in so many different areas. But some of them prefer to just cook or fix something for you, or give you the answers they know, rather than spending the time showing you how to do these things yourself, or helping to lead you to find the answers yourself, the way a teacher most probably would.

There are people who can do things extremely well- write, sing, dance, speak another language, work with computers,... but this does not guarantee that they can TEACH their trades very well.
I can remember teachers who I didn't enjoy learning from and who turned me off of particular topics- whether it was science, salsa dancing, or even learning Spanish. But then luckily, other teachers came along who knew how to inspire students, and share their passion in each of these areas. And now I enjoy these topics so much and am so motivated to continue to pursue them, BECAUSE of the second round of teachers I was fortunate to find.

And I will never forget my English professor- Lee Johnson- at UBC who taught me about Romantic Writers such as William Wordsworth and John Keats. It wasn't just the material that was interesting to learn, but I think more importantly, it was the WAY it was all taught. I have a feeling that if Professor Johnson had taught me physics, I probably would have become a physicist, or if he had taught me about cars, who knows? I might have become a mechanic. The point is that he was just such a great teacher. It didn't matter what he taught, but it's the way he believed in his students and shared his love of a particular subject that got me excited to learn more. And consequently, I've had a love for English Literature, especially Romantic Poetry, that I've tried to pass on to my students as well.

I also happen to know teachers who teach dance, and are beautiful dancers. And I have taken classes with creative writing teachers who write for a living and are great at it, and I know music teachers who are phenomenal vocalists and musical talents. And none of these individuals simply settled for teaching. They have chosen to do it because they thoroughly enjoy it and are fully aware of the importance of teachers and their impact on people, on society, on the world.

A Manhattan taxi driver a few years ago summed it all up to me in just one thought: "God made men," he explained, "..and teachers make gentlemen."*

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"If a doctor, lawyer or dentist had forty people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job."- Donal D. Quinn

Tip #2- Hooray for the Holidays!

Remember how excited you were as a kid when you knew it was that last day of school, just before the holidays? And you couldn't wait to hang out with your friends, relax, forget about homework and maybe even sleep in? Well, what we may not have realized at the time is that our teachers were just as excited (if not more excited) to take a vacation as well.

Perhaps, like me, you assumed your teachers slept at the school, because which teachers actually had a life outside their classroom anyway, right? But now that we have been placed on the other side of the picture,..whoah, does our perception change!

Most likely, you are on holidays right now- whether it's just for a few days over Christmas, a week through to New Years, or a few weeks for those lucky teachers out there.

My advice to you? Enjoy them. Enjoy your holidays. It is your turn to hang out with friends, relax, forget about giving homework or worrying about a student. And don't feel guilty about sleeping in. Maybe your body needs it.

I know, I know. Some of you have left-over projects to mark, new planning to complete, and you want to get a head start on your teaching to-do's for the New Year. But the reality? That list could go on for ever, if you let it.

I know some of you might have kids of your own to take care of and other personal responsibilities to tend to. And you might be thinking, "You don't understand. I have so many things to get done over the holidays."

I may not be in the same position as you, but trust me, I remember all too well that pull to use my holiday time to get caught up and run all those errands I couldn't during the school year. And often I would find new ones to do too. But, by the time the holidays were over, I felt frazzled, exhausted, unrested and couldn't believe it was already time to go back.

Holidays are for stopping, for breathing, for playing and for rejuvenating. Whether you do this on your own or with your kids or family and friends, ... take advantage of the time you've been given for it.

I wish I had more people who reminded me of the importance of this while I was teaching. more people who showed me how to do this. But I know now why I didn't- because it truly is not an easy thing to do, especially for teachers. We always have new ideas pop into our heads, and when you think about it, the work of a teacher doesn't really end. A lesson could always be improved- it could be more creative, it could include more visuals, it could be better organized.

Sometimes, I would return after the holidays feeling like I never really got one, while my students would come back to class so energetic and enthusiastic. They actually rested, played, and refreshed their minds by taking the break. And that in turn often allowed them to learn and absorb more once they returned.

Who says it can only work for students? We would be wise to follow their example.

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How can you make use of this tip?

Ask yourself if you are actually using this time off as a holiday. If there is marking, planning and assignments that you really need to get done over the break, and you are absolutely sure that there is no other time for you to complete this, then get it done. But don't spend your whole vacation doing it. Designate a specific amount of time out of your holidays to simply have fun and step away from your teaching tasks, at least temporarily. Whether it be a few hours, a few days, or a week, the break will help relax and inspire you, and this in turn will help you to inspire your students when class is back in session.

One way to make sure you do not get consumed by "teacher talk" over the holidays is to hang out with non-teacher friends. And get any of your friends (whether teachers or not) to catch you if you spend too much time discussing teaching issues, or mulling over a student's progress. Some advice is good and maybe there are some things you need to get off your chest. But make it brief. There's always time for more of that when you return to class. For now, you're on holidays! Celebrate however you choose!

" If we took a holiday, took some time to celebrate, Just one day out of life, It would be, It would be so nice."- Madonna

Tip #1- Once a teacher, always a teacher...

"So you're not teaching anymore?"

I never know how to answer this question. No, I'm not teaching in a classroom anymore, with regular teaching hours (and those of us who are teachers know that there really is nothing "regular" about our hours), with my particular bunch of students who walk in every day and call me by my last name, but...

I think that once you are a teacher, you are always a teacher in some way. The people who teach from their heart, who love to share what they know with others, and who explain the workings of something rather than just doing it for another... I think we never lose that part of us. It is just a part of our personalities. It can never really be taken from us, and even if we wanted to, we can't just STOP the teacher in us. Even if we put it aside for a little while, it just reemerges when we are asked a question, or when we see that someone is in need of help or understanding. And even when we ourselves are wanting to learn something new, we find a way to teach it to ourselves in memorable ways. We enjoy showing others and ourselves how to solve a new problem, how to just make sense of something.

I may not be in my own classroom anymore, but every day, whether I meet another stranger who needs help finding a particular place, or I'm with my niece (who is only three) and wants to know why something is the way it is, or if I'm on my own and am trying to grasp new information about an unfamiliar topic, I am teaching others and myself.

And I believe this is going to continue - me teaching in different forms, in different situations, to different people. But teaching,... always.

How you can make use of this tip:

We might complain sometimes about having to take our teaching jobs home with us (being overwhelmed with marking, planning, assessing, having our students on our minds constantly, dealing with the pressure of students' progress or lack of progress reflecting on us as teachers).

But teachers have the luxury of taking their skills wherever they go, whether in or out of a classroom. And often, this can connect us to new friends, new opportunities, as well as allowing us to see the true gift that teachers possess. Not everyone can impart knowledge with the patience, clarity and enthusiasm that a teacher can. Celebrate the fact that you are among those who can and enjoy it wherever you go!