Why I Became A Teacher

I just discovered this week that Crystal, over at Teaching Little Miracles is also a Kansas blogger. 

 

And she wrote a nice post about why she became a teacher. And at the end, she said she was doing this because of the attacks {especially, it seems, in our state} against teachers. 

Yeah, I want to take the high road, too. 

So here's why I became a teacher. 

When we first moved to this community, I went to an informational meeting about "how to become a teacher." But this community doesn't have a four year university, so hmm, I decided I didn't want to do it. 

Fast forward a couple years, well, several. My one and only little girl starts school. And I spend the whole year super cleaning the house - lol. 

But when my girl got to 2nd grade, I apply for and become a sub. And I really enjoy it. I liked looking at a teacher's plans and making them work. I liked connecting with the kids, even for one day - although there were several classes that I subbed in many times. And, really, I liked seeing what teachers did in their classrooms. So I start thinking again, why don't I do this. By now some universities have outreach programs in my community, and I can do some classes totally online. So I decided to go for it.

I went very, very slowly - I think I took two classes a semester. I already had my Bachelor's {in something else}, so that helped. 

OK, as I read back over this, it seems more like a "how I became a teacher" - not why. I just like kids. Whenever I volunteer at church, it's with the kids. I like trying to find creative ways to interest them and help them learn. I like trying to make some story that we have to read from our reading series come alive. I love when we can get all excited about dinosaurs, or insects, or a story about Julian. I like to watch them paint - when they don't get to do that at home. Or even, give a little back rub that somebody doesn't pull away from.