Why did I go back to teaching?
This blog is going to be a little different from my usual, but because I am in the thick of it - I want to bring you along my journey and let you see the good, bad, and ugly along the way.
Let’s back up a little to answer the first questions: Wait, you left teaching?
Why did I leave teaching?
When I graduated college, I heard all of the statistics…
More than 44% of teachers leave within the first five years in the profession.
Newer teachers are 2½ times more likely to quit than those who are tenured.
8% of teachers start over with a new career each year.
My reaction? “That will never be me.” I loved teaching, always planned to be a teacher, and couldn’t IMAGINE not doing it the rest of my life. I especially didn’t understand why people left to be stay-at-home moms. Why can’t you just teach AND be a mom?
Then I had a really hard year my 6th year teaching. Huge class size mixed with violent behaviors and little support topped with difficulties getting pregnant. Fast forward to finally getting pregnant and finding out I was due in August - arguably the worst month for a teacher to have a baby. I didn’t want to do it. I didn’t want another hard year. I didn’t want to start the year with a long term sub and spend the rest of the year cleaning up the mess. I just needed a break.
My husband and I studied our bank account and figured out that I could take a year off to stay home and enjoy that “baby” year, and then I would return.
To make a long story short - that year turned into two, then a pandemic hit so it turned into three, then I had a second kiddo so I needed another baby year so it turned to four, then I found a part time job working with new teachers (that I LOVED) and those four years turned into six.
My one year break from teaching had quickly turned into six.
Why did I decide to return to teaching?
Remember that bank account? Turns out that part time gig wasn’t going to keep it going quite like a full time job did so I had to make a decision. I could find a full time job in corporate world that paid a lot or pursue a job back in education.
After working with the first year teachers and having a handful of years “off”, I felt ready to go back into the classroom. I was excited for all of those classroom joys that you truly don’t find anywhere else - the comradeship that comes with teacher partners, the celebration of seasons, seeing the lightbulb go off - all of those sweet moments.
Also, after working in a few jobs that were primarily with adults, I missed spending my days with kids.
Finally, the biggest factor was that my oldest was starting kindergarten. If I were to go back to teaching, it would allow me to be in the same building as her (and her sibling in a few years). It would allow me to rub shoulders with her teachers and have a say in who she had as a teacher. It would allow me to really get to know her friends. It would allow me to have the same breaks, know what was going on at school, and have a front row seat to her school experience.
So, that was it…I decided to go back to the classroom.
Now to decide where…
Why did I switch districts? (and how did I decide?)
While I loved the district that I started my teaching career in, the last year had left me with questions. I didn’t love how some decisions were made and I wanted to know if there really was any greener grass out there.
So, I started looking around. I asked friends about the districts they taught in, I subbed in FOUR other districts, I researched and looked at salary scales and retention rates and left no stone unturned.
On one of those sub days, I walked into a new-to-me building in a new-to-me district and when I tell you I INSTANTLY knew…I INSTANTLY knew. From how the front office greeted me to the way teachers spoke to students to the way students smiled - it was like I had walked into what I always pictured elementary school should be.
The saying “when you know, you know” 100% applied and before I left the building that day, I made sure to let the principal know my intentions and my job application was submitted by the end of the week.
3 weeks later, I was accepting a job to teach in this school.
(Side note: Pulling back the curtain here - if you are not happy in your building, grade, or district - just start the conversation! Ask around and find out if there is a district nearby that might fit your values better. It doesn’t hurt to try - especially if you don’t burn any bridges along the way. I loved my first district, but I also think it is totally fair and healthy to try out another district if it seems like it might be an even better fit).
How do I feel about returning to teaching?
This question is a little harder to answer (and honestly will probably be it’s own blog post at some point) BUT now that I’ve finished a month and a half…
It has also been so much harder than I ever anticipated.
When I interviewed for the position, it was for the grade level I had spent my entire career in (ah, sweet comfort third grade). However, based on what spots became available and who they had hired, it was better for the school to slide me into an open first grade position…and that has been such a hard transition.
I thought all of my experience would be enough but learning a whole new district, new curriculum, new grading systems, new discipline structures, new resources, new technology…it’s a lot.
I say it’s like knowing how to ride a bike, but they handed me a motorcycle. I’ll figure it out. Riding a bicycle definitely gave me some solid skills…but there is a lot that has changed.
And then there is the element of now I’m not just a single gal living on her own. I am a mom of two young kids who are also going through big transitions moving to full time after having glorious years of being a part time stay at home family…
It means I’m carrying a lot more emotions than just my own.
It means I’m getting 3 humans ready for the school day instead of just me.
It means when contract hours are done, mom hours really kick in…so whatever doesn’t get done during the day probably won’t (or it will be after bedtime).
But it also means that I get to be in the same school as my oldest. If I have to be somewhere full time, I like being in the same place as my kiddos.
I love knowing her teacher well and knowing that her teacher speaks to kids so kindly.
I love the feeling of being in my own classroom and celebrating the little things in life with tiny humans.
I love getting to know my new teammates.
I love getting to have more grownup friends again and having that team spirit.
I love feeling my teacher craft getting stronger…even if the growing pains are really strong some days.
Would I recommend returning to the classroom as a teacher?
That’s the question, isn’t it? We know teachers are leaving the profession at a terrifying pace, but what about those of us that are considering going back in? Is that like getting dismissed from fighting in a war and then running right back into fire?
Here’s what I’ll say - you won’t know until you try.
Teaching is only a 10 month contract if you think about it, so decide if it’s something you could handle for 10 months. For me, I knew I would always wonder if I didn’t try again so it was worth giving a year to try it out. I think changing grades, schools, or districts can truly make all the difference. You might see the grass really is greener or you might realize your issues weren’t really with that district.
I will write more posts in the future about how I set up my room, what life is like in first grade for an upper elementary teacher, and how I feel as the year goes on, but thank you for following me along this journey. If you are thinking about this decision and want an ear - send me a note in the question box and I would love to chat with you!
Whatever you decide, you’ve got this.
