I talked with Astarte about her professional goals. Her family is well off and she does not need to work in order to help support her family. She wishes to continue working with children because she feels a natural closeness with them. She likes to be a part of their development, watching them grow and gain skills. She currently floats between classrooms as needed and loves this because she is able to see children each day and at various stages of development, from infancy to the late preschool years. She feels joy when interacting with children and hopes to be able to spend at least ten more years teaching in early childhood classrooms before she is no longer able to keep up with the physical demands of the job.
This last statement reminded me that working with children is physically demanding as well as emotionally demanding. As an administrator of early childhood programs, my workload is much different than it was when I was a classroom teacher; it is easy to forget the stress and strain of daily classroom work.
Thanks for sharing. Yes, being in the classroom is very stressful, mentally and physically, and very demanding. This is not due to the challenges of teaching but to the lack of support or the necessary tools you need to help the children understand the point being made. Coupled with the fact that you spend so much of your own money just to provide the children with some classroom necessities. We all can only hope that one day, things will be much better.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like your conversation with Astarte was really great. It is very important to remember about the physical and emotional demands of working with children. No two days are the same in an early childhood classroom and one is often encountering new situations daily. The work of a teacher is hard work in more ways than one.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like your conversation with Astarte was really great. It is very important to remember about the physical and emotional demands of working with children. No two days are the same in an early childhood classroom and one is often encountering new situations daily. The work of a teacher is hard work in more ways than one.
ReplyDeleteHi Erica- Working in a classroom is very demanding in many ways. At the school I am at, I am the opening director until the regular director comes in a few hours later. I then am the infant teacher for the rest of the day. I have to say that both positions have their own stresses. The main director always tells me how she doesn't miss the daily stresses that teachers have.
ReplyDeleteIt is very stressful and demanding in many ways. You never know what to expect and but you have to be prepared to do it all.
ReplyDeleteI believe that teachers must have a special connection with children, and have to have a heart for children in order to teach effectively. I have worked with teachers in the past that have no patience with children, and I often wonder why they chose the profession of teaching young children. I also understand as a teacher that it can be stressful at times, but it is important for teachers to take care of themselves first so that they are able to give children what they need.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteIt’s great that you were able to establish a relationship with another professional. Being able to ask her questions I am sure is going to help you understand early childhood education around the world. I also enjoy floating between classroom and being able to experience the different age groups. I am grateful that at my current job I am able to do this.