If you’re thinking of trading in your current job and becoming a teacher, they’ll be more than a few changes to get used to. Before you wave goodbye to the nine-to-five routine, here’s a few teachers on what to expect from your new career in the classroom – and what’ll change from your current working life.
1 It’s harder to switch off
Amanda Douglas, a primary school teacher in London, who used to work as a marketing manager for a television channel, says the importance of teaching to children’s lives can be overwhelming and take over your home life, as well as your working one.
“Being a teacher is such an honour, you feel as though you are making a real difference to children’s lives – both academically and in their social development. The problem with this is that it is hard to switch off mentally and emotionally,” she says.
Maya Wittleton, a deputy head teacher in London, agrees: “You genuinely want the best for the children and their families, and if you work in a challenging school these families are often going through difficult times.
“As you become more senior you also find out more about children’s lives outside of school, you have to deal with more issues to do with child protection and teachers do not get support to deal with these.”
2 The hours may be even longer than you think
Most career changers will expect to take on longer hours as a teacher, but many people entering the profession still underestimate the amount of time they’ll spend at work, says Wittleton. “Most teachers I have worked with arrive at school between 7-7.30am and leave at 6pm or later.
Sarah Pellereau, a science teacher at a comprehensive school in Winchester, says most teachers she knows work a 70-hour week. “It’s pretty full on and it eats away at your down time,” she says.
Wittleton adds that teachers also often work over weekends, and schools remain open during the holidays so teachers can come in and work without the children. So if you’re expecting plenty of long holidays, think again.
3 There’s no daily routine
We all remember the carefully structured timetables we had at school, but things can be a little more off-the-cuff for teachers, according to Elena Blackshaw, a year 6 teacher in London. She says that despite the times that children arrive, learn, break, eat and leave being the same, new sets of challenges arrive daily that throw your plans off course. “Negotiating with a difficult parent, a management issue, teaching a lesson you thought would be simple but hasn’t gone at all to plan – there are many things that come up that you could never plan for.
“I love being kept on my toes, but it does mean you can never plan exactly how long things will take, or effectively timetable your day.”
4 You’ll be surrounded by kids all day
As a teacher you’ll trade in an office full of adults for a classroom of kids, which can be a lot of fun. Whether, as Pellereau says, that’s because of the things they say (“An ion is something that mum uses to flatten out dad’s shirts,” is her personal favourite), or the fun and games of creative lessons.
“I’ve taken my kids outside to draw atomic structures on the school walls and pavements, shot brussels sprouts out of a hoover, and blown up countless things, and set my classroom roof on fire. Being a science teacher is particularly fun, as we get to direct and burn things,” she says.
However, Wittleton warns that being surround by kids can be particularly tough for new teachers, who aren’t used to being in teacher mode at all times, no matter how tired or busy you are. “You are around children all day so you don’t feel like you have any time during the day to just be yourself,” she says.
5 You can change the behaviour of the people you work with
Have you ever wished you could change the people you work with? Many people have trouble getting on with some of their colleagues: working with children gives you the chance to help shape those around you into better people, according to Clarice Taylor, a teacher in the East Sussex.
Taylor previously worked in customer services roles and says when working with adults who are difficult there is no excuse for their behaviour, whereas in the classroom “you are dealing with young people who aren’t fully formed yet, and that means anything bad they do is something you can change”.
She adds: “Even if a child is rude or vile to you, there’s usually a reason. It’s a learning opportunity and the chance to better understand their personality.”
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