10 Life Lessons From A Classroom Teacher

10 Life Lessons From A Classroom Teacher

As a classroom teacher, I was supposed to know it all – from physics to puberty to virtual reality, from advise on how parents should raise their kids (even if I didn’t have any) to the American education system and how to improve it. The list is exhaustive. But little did I know that while I was busy teaching everyone else, I was learning some important life lessons on the way.
1. You can’t please everyone. Teachers are expected to meet the requirements of the state, the school, fellow teachers, students, their parents, and the community at large. The list is goes on and on, and the truth is, one person just can’t do it! This is just as true in life as it is in the classroom. What you can do is decipher what’s important and stay true to that.

2. Those who are hardest to love are often those who need it the most. Some students just pushed me to my knees in prayer. I was often worn out from trying to be effective and gracious to students who were unwilling (or unable) to return the favor. The truth is that those “unlovable” students (and people in your life) are the ones most in need of love, direction, and someone willing to prove their worth. The rewarding thing is that when we do break through, it’s all the sweeter. (We may have been the only ones who have ever tried.)

3. Planning is nearly everything. I am a real fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of girl. I think well on my feet and enjoy new adventures. But as someone that others relied upon, I couldn’t just wing it. The more I prepared for my lessons, the more smoothly my days went. My students felt more comfortable, and I felt more confident. When I didn’t prepare, we all suffered. (Sound like a birthday party with no plans?) However…

4. You need to be flexible. So, half your class is absent on the day of the unit test. So, the fire alarm goes off in the middle of science – “Alright, everyone, line up. No, forget the volcanoes that are exploding all over your desks!” Life is full of little unexpected delays and disturbances. But that’s life! If you can’t learn to be flexible, you’re going to break.

5. Complaining gets you nowhere. Never once did I get a better class list or a new Smart Board from complaining to my principal. However, when she saw that I was doing the best I could with my “unlovable” students and my old-school overhead, she was more likely to listen to my timely request for some new dry erase boards for my students.

6. Some people are just gossips. Nobody likes to have their dirty laundry aired to the public. But some people just can’t keep what they know to themselves (and some people relish in it). As such, be mindful who you are bringing into your confidence. And when you feel tempted to share what you know about others, ask yourself how much you’d like your dirty drawers flying in the wind.

7. Sometimes all people need is a listening ear. Students, colleagues, whomever – everyone has problems. Sometimes, the best way to solve those problems is to say nothing – just let them get it out. If you have wisdom to share, ask permission first, “When you’re done, may I share some insight with you?” You’ll be amazed how much you can help by doing almost nothing at all.

8. Know how to use your resources. Some problems were just too big or beyond my scope of understanding for me to be much help. In times like that, we have to remember to be humble enough ask for help. That’s what those resources are there for!

9. You can’t expect the same thing from everyone, even twins. The twin sisters in my class may have looked alike, but they were their own people and needed to be treated that way. The same is true for your children, husband, family members, and friends. Don’t be surprised when your first grader can’t do things your fourth grader could have done. Appreciate the things he can. And applaud him for it!

10. Be thankful for the battles you’ve won. If I measured my success by my students’ standardized test scores, my bulletin boards and my organizational skills, I may have been put to shame. However, I am confident that my students knew that I accepted and loved them. (I have the “love notes” from them to prove it!) Did I ever win the “war” of teacher success? Time will tell. But I know that I have learned some things from the battle!

Share some of what you’ve learned from your “battles” and let’s stand proudly together!

Written By: Lisa Liebling