30-Day Blogging Challenge: Day 4: What I Love About Teaching

Day 4: "Respond: What do you love most about teaching?"

So much.

I love the journey I take with my students every year, learning with them and from them.

I love the relationships I form with students and their families. I tweeted yesterday that I call my students "my kids" because they really do feel like that. I proudly bring my family into my classroom to work with "my kids". Even when they move, on they still feel like a part of me. Running into former students, having class reunions and being the person they contact when they need something or want to share happy news is a true priviledge.

I love being the person who believes in a room full of kids, some of whom don't yet believe in themselves.

I love seeing them do things they never thought possible.

I love that every day of my job is different.

I love getting to be creative, innovative and experimental. Thinking of something or reading something one night and then trying it the next day is amazing.

I love being the Lead Learner and a Collaborative Curator with my students.

I love collaborating with colleagues in my building and around the world.

I love how much inspiration I get each and every day from my students, my colleagues and my PLN.

I love learning what parts of me stuck with my former students:
"Miss Pollock, I never swear because in grade 7 you told me that people who swear aren't creative enough to come up with interesting things to say." - one of my former students, who is now in grade 11

I love that today, I heard this conversation in my class:
"Are you finished your tweet?"
"No."
"Why are you Imagineering, then?"
"I'm actually doing my Dream Class right now."

I feel so lucky to have found a job that is so much more than just a job. Teaching is my hobby, my habit, my passion, my vocation and my calling.