As I sit here at my desk, wading through numerous

e-mails from colleagues, principals, and parents attempting

to separate the necessities from the junk, I realize how much

I depend on technology. I wonder how teachers

communicated with one another before the days of

computers and the internet. In that moment, I realized how

fortunate I am to be a teacher in the technology age.

I readily admit that education is, at times, exhausting in

its ever-changing atmosphere, and at times I feel utterly

overwhelmed with all the new and current strategies, the

state standards, the demands of state assessment, and the

constant barrage of “do more.” However, I take comfort in

knowing I have colleagues, who are just a short click of the

mouse away, for support. I share both moments of despair

and moments of triumph with these people through e-mail.

I relieve tension and vent frustrations. I share strategies that

work for me and seek help in areas of weakness. I honestly

don’t know what I would do without my e-mail buddies.

My principal has remarked to the faculty at Jackson High

School, several times in fact, that we no longer live in an age

where teachers can shut their classroom door and do as

they please. At times we roll our eyes. We’ve heard it so

many times, yet he is right, and I am glad. Technology is, of

course, only a small part of this, but no one can deny its

effectiveness for communication—for opening our

classroom doors.

What a wonderful thing technology is, yet I know I can

learn and do more with it. I surf the web, I research on

fabulous teaching sites, and I use my projector, but I know

there is a wealth of information that I am currently lacking. I

will continue my endeavor to discover where technology

can take me, making my life better and maybe even simpler.

I conclude by adding, as Frost reminds me, that some roads,

although less traveled—like the technology road for so

many of us—can make “all the difference.”

 

             Haven’t we had some beautiful fall days lately? The leaves are turning brilliant shades of yellow, orange and deep red. The crisp fall breeze is blowing, and slowly the air is turning a few degrees cooler. Fall, my favorite time of year, is in the air. What? You haven’t noticed? You haven’t had time to enjoy the glorious scenery because you’ve been too busy grading research papers? Add to this load the other responsibilities that we have – planning dynamic lessons which incorporate cooperative learning and technology, collaborating with colleagues, corresponding with parents and district personnel, and still trying to have a personal life; it’s easy to understand why almost half of all new teachers leave the profession within the first five years. So why are we still here?

            After reading Tim Gillespie’s article “The List” in the November EJ, I decided to come up with my own “Reasons to Keep Teaching.” I’m sharing my top five and hoping you’ll start your own list. Then next time you’re staring down a daunting stack of papers and you need a little motivation to keep chugging along, refer back to your list and remember why you’re still here.

 

1. Those ah-ha moments

You may have already said something ten different ways, but finally, the 11^th time you explain it, something clicks, and the concept Shelly was struggling to understand is now crystal clear. Moments like this don’t happen all that often, but they’re always a possibility – certainly something to look forward to after a late night grading research papers!

2. June, July, & August – but not for the reasons you might think!

Yes, it’s a time to relax, sleep in and catch up on family time, but it’s also a chance to catch up on some reading. During the school year I make a list of all the books my students recommend, and during the summer, I like to stay up late reading. I also try to devote some of my reading time to professional literature – Jim Burke recommends 15 minutes every day. Summer is also a chance to look ahead; attend some professional development training to stay at the top of your game or plan ahead so you have one less thing to do when the papers start piling up!

3. Teaching is full of fresh starts.

Every year as the Back to School supplies take their places on store shelves, a little bit of nostalgia overtakes me. I guess I’ve never outgrown the excitement I felt as the beginning of school approached. But I’ve noticed that as a teacher, not only do you experience that new beginning every school year, sometimes you also experience it between class periods. A fabulous first hour activity may be a flop fourth hour, but you always have another chance…

4. Teaching is social.

I am not meant to sit at a desk in front of a computer in my little cubicle all day. I need to interact with people, share ideas, debate controversial topics, and play devil ’s advocate.

5. I learn something new all the time.

No matter how many times I teach Hamlet or To Kill a Mockingbird, I always learn something new. Students bring their own perspective to the literature we read, and they can not only teach each other, but also us – if we’ll let them. 

 

While none of these reasons will help you get to the bottom of that stack of papers, maybe having your list will help motivate you when you feel like you can’t read one more paper lacking a thesis statement and/or enough supporting details. Don’t give up – you may not be to the bottom of the pile yet, but you are a few papers closer that you were an hour ago. And remember, you friends down the hall and your friends here in SMETA all sympathize and feel your pain. We’re here for you, supporting and encouraging you every step of the way.