Comments on: Why Do You Teach? Watch Your Colleagues Answer in a New CEA Video

By: Sanctions v. Incentives: False Choice for Teachers? « BLOGCEA

Sanctions v. Incentives: False Choice for Teachers? « BLOGCEA — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:45:43 +0000

[...] Obama, reauthorization of ESEA, school reform, secretary duncan by Bob Murphy It is great that CEA has asked teachers why they chose to teach. It is an important question to ask, particularly given the shroud of cynicism surrounding the [...]

By: Laurel Killough

Laurel Killough — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:18:45 +0000

Thanks for the great comments and stories everyone! It’s so inspiring to read these.

By: Sherrie Horstmeyer

Sherrie Horstmeyer — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:49:56 +0000

Teaching is my daily gift to myself. My gifts come wrapped in many ways; a child’s smile, a nod of understanding, a card hastily made from folded paper entitled ‘The Best Teacher Ever’, a half of a cookie, my name called out when I’m seen in the grocery store, a heartfelt ‘Thank You’ for helping in a time of need…My list is timeless and endless. In twenty-four years, I have never had a day go by without receiving a gift from a child….that’s why I teach.

By: Franco Dell'Olio

Franco Dell'Olio — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:24:15 +0000

I often tell anyone who’ll listen that a bad day of teaching is still better than a good day in any other job I’ve had! No other profession is as rewarding. I am honored to be part of a profession where everyday students remind me of the importance of knowledge.

By: Debra Friedman

Debra Friedman — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:25:21 +0000

I love the challenge of teaching students new ways of thinking. It’s such a wonderful feeling when students have that A-ha moment and when I can see them growing as learners. For me, it’s important to know that when I go to work everyday, I am doing a job that matters, that can actually help change someone’s life for the better.

By: Meghan

Meghan — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:34:15 +0000

This morning I received an email from a former student. He was my mentee in sixth grade. I poured my heart and soul into being there for him. I really felt like I was making a difference in his life. At the end of sixth grade, he did something terrible and we had a falling out. All this time I kept thinking about him, and hoping he was okay. Today, I opened my email and found an email from him. He wrote to appologize for the incident and to say that he was sorry then too but wasn’t brave enough to admit it. He said that he appreciates all that I did for him and wishes things could have been different. I broke down in tears. This is why I teach.

By: Sara T.

Sara T. — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:30:51 +0000

Teaching is one of the only noble professions left– walk into a room full of former students and you are instantly a Celebrity! What other profession gets that kind of response from their clients?

By: Elaine T

Elaine T — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:33:50 +0000

I teach because I love to learn. Learning along with children, discovering new things together, teaching each other and growing together is truely a gift. Teaching and learning nurtures the spirit. There is nothing better than the thrill of helping a child learn something new.

By: Christopher Dean

Christopher Dean — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:39:08 +0000

When I was in 4th grade I came home one day and explained what I had learned about the Greenhouse Effect to my little brother. My mother overheard and said, “That was great! You should become a teacher some day.”

So I did.

By: Tricia Perrone

Tricia Perrone — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:32:08 +0000

I teach high school math because I enjoy math. But more then that, I teach for the “ah ha” moments; the “do you have a min, I need to talk?” moments; the “hey, this isn’t so hard” moments; and the “well that means…” moments. These moments may seem few and far inbetween at times, but their memories outlast any stretch of time. It’s these moments that tell me I’ve reached a child who may not have otherwise been reached. I’ve shown them there can be a light at the end of the tunnel and that learning is an ongoing process. I teach becuase it’s these moments that I myself continue to learn from everyday.