It’s no secret that teaching is hard work and, at times, stressful. When the stress gets the better of us, it’s easy to forget that at its core, teaching is one of the best jobs out there. If you’re having a particularly tough day, here are five of the best things about being a teacher.

No One Day Is Ever the Same

Sure, your timetable won’t be changing and the bells go off at the same time every day but the fact that you have the opportunity to try new ideas, teach new content and chat to your students about their weekends means that there are so many variables that mean that no two Mondays will ever feel the same!

You’re Actually Making a Difference

This was one of the main reasons I went into teaching and one of the saddest things about leaving the profession. Teachers make a genuine difference. You have an opportunity to inspire and provide direction to young minds. It might not feel like you’re making a difference when your rowdy year 10s are unsettled and wired up on sugar on a Friday afternoon, but a good teacher makes a difference. Honest!

Constant Learning

We might grumble and sigh at the thought of another twilight session or an inset day but the reality is, teaching is one of the few professions where there is regular training and plenty of opportunity to grow as a professional. Embrace it. Enjoy it. And if you really don’t enjoy training, at least you get to enjoy plenty of tea and individually wrapped biscuits.

Real Progression

Opportunity is everywhere in a school – leadership roles and extra responsibilities always come your way when you least expect it. Even if the internal roles don’t appear too often, you can forge your own new role by having a great idea and the tenacity to make it work.

The Kids Are Amazing

I wanted to avoid ending on a cheesy note, but it’s hard to explain why teaching is so amazing without saying this. The kids are without a doubt the best part of the job. You might struggle to understand what a dab is or why Fortnite is so fun, but when everything else is getting the better of you, remember why you turn up on a morning. Deep down, we all think the world of that rowdy year 10 class and we adore the top set year 7s who still manage to line up silently, day-in-day-out.

So, there you have it – five of the best things about being a teacher! What other reasons have you got to tell the world why being a teacher is amazing? Comment and let us know.

Sign up for a free Twinkl account here to enable you to download our complimentary content, or get a full Secondary subscription here.