Teaching is a vocation

Teachers are under appreciated and under paid. That you love what you are doing is what's important.

Actually, it is a mindset such as yours that doesn't give teachers the respect they deserve. Teaching IS a PROFESSION. I am a PROFESSIONAL. Just because one might not teach to earn a great living doesn't make it less of a PROFESSION. In reality, more people should choose their jobs based on whether they will ENJOY what they are doing..and not base it on how much money they are going to get from it. That contributes to the amount of depression in America because people choose jobs based on the money and not based on whether they're actually going to enjoy it or not. When I think of vocation, I think of jobs that people hold that use their natural talents, but that does not require 4 year degree...like being a mechanic, welder, hair stylist, child care, etc. Things that one might be able to take a class on at the Vocational Technical center in their school district I think any career that requires a 4 year degree is a PROFESSION.

I trained to become a teacher in order to make a positive difference to children's lives. I always try to make lessons interesting and enjoyable. I like to focus of success and give rewards to for good behavior and work that much effort has been put into. I agree that teaching, for whatever age group, is a vocation. It is certainly not a lucrative job. The reward is thinking about all the children achieve. A little girl once told me she couldn't read. All she lacked was confidence. By the end of that academic year she was an excellent reader. So it makes me smile when I think about teaching children such an important skill as reading.

I agree that teaching is a calling, and many of us are not paid very well. But when you think about it-is it even possible to put a price tag on what we do? And could society truly afford it?

Don't feel down as you're now doing the noble service to your community. Your present and ex-students are the great assets for you as maybe in future they will help your children. Be kind to them and be creative to "pin-mind' your students with good and productive remarks of yours, so where or what ever they will be in future, they will never forget you.