The Ex Teacher's Diary

Teaching has taught me a lot more about life than just 5 things but it’s always worthwhile honing in on the key takeaways.

1. Children are the future and it is our job to ensure they have the life skills to navigate the future. All too frequently, society focusses on academic or maybe sporting success, whilst these both have their importance nothing is as important as nurturing the child as an individual. If the last 50 years has taught us anything, the world is ever changing. What we teach children today may simply not be useful in the future, or necessary! But if we teach them HOW to be, then they can navigate the world with their own tool set. Being kind should be an imperative part of this teaching.
2. Adults, as well as children, thrive on positivity and praise. People need recognition for their efforts. We all thrive on positivity and often work harder when we are acknowledged and less hard when ignored. Children are the same. Mistakes can be handled with integrity and curiosity rather than negativity. Most of teaching is about relationships and most of managing people is about relationships. Get the relationships right and you’re 90% of the way to your goal.
3. Life is about your important people. Now I love teaching children. I love watching them learn and grow. I love making them feel safe and nurtured. But it is very easy to let this desire to do the very best by the children in your class to slip into your personal life and have a detrimental affect at home. I think this is one of the biggest challenges for teachers. How to ‘switch off’! Answers on a postcard please….!
4. Teaching Assistants and support staff are underrated! This possibly goes for most professions that there are unseen staff that are just vital to the success of a company or school. My life lesson is treat everyone with kindness and respect.
5. Culture is everything.