Many Hats

This image speaks so me as a teacher and I know it's so true. If you're a teacher, you understand. If you aren't a teacher, but you can pretend to understand, but you never truly will unless you walk a mile in our shoes (often times I get about 10,000 steps a day so really over a mile).

Yes, I am a teacher. But I am also a nurse, mentor, coach, counselor, referee, therapist, janitor, motivator, parent, comedian, detective, mediator, negotiator, cheerleader, entertainer, drill sergeant, zoo keeper, event planner, entrepreneur and decorator. How many other jobs get to say this?

Let me spell it out a little more for you.

Teacher's daily jobs are to teach but let me tell you how I am each of the other jobs, all packed into one job (teacher) and how we wear many, many hats. 

I nurse children back to health when they've fallen or their bellies hurt. I mentor students that I have or students that I have had by being a role model for them. I am a coach at recess but also when it's time to read(and more)- I coach them through it all. I counsel students to make the right choices. I am a referee because I have to make many calls and decisions throughout the day between students who are arguing, who can't make the decisions for themselves because they don't have the executive functioning skills to do that...yet (so I get to teach them that, too). I am a therapist when I make children feel better when their heart is broken. I am a janitor when I use Lysol wipes to make sure the germs are gone in our classroom, but also I clean up many spills. I motivate my students daily. I am my students' parent when they are with me- I love them endlessly and am there for them. I am a comedian even if my students don't think so- I am an entertainer, too- I put on shows daily (You can find me 8:20-3:50 Monday-Friday). I am a detective when I have to figure out and solve problems for my students that they can't yet do themselves. I am a negotiator with my students with behavior needs (first, then is said a lot). I am a cheerleader, like a motivator, I cheer my students on every day. I am a drill sergeant because I have strict rules, but also I hold my students accountable and have high expectations for them. I am a zoo keeper with my 23 students who often times come to kindergarten, not knowing any rules so it is my job to train them. I am an event planner because I plan my daily lessons, but on top of that I plan home visits, field trips, guest visitors, conferences and I'm the Hospitality Chair at my school. I am an entrepreneur because I take chances and risks and operate a successful "business." I am a decorator because I make sure my classroom is aesthetically pleasing and a fun, welcoming place for my students.

Am I complaining? Absolutely not. I love my job more than anything, but it is a hard, hard job. It's not a profession that's made for everyone. It's not just babysitting. It's so much more than that. It's so much more than teaching.