Do You Miss Teaching?

Look at me… I’m standing on the far left in both pictures in the blue fleece vest.  I was young, pragmatic, and pregnant.  I cannot believe that these photos were taken more than 10 years ago.  Both of my Math 12 classes were situated “down the hill” from the high school in a kindergarten portable located beside the elementary school.  At this time, the school district was growing and the high school was over populated and under construction.  Although the school had 8 portables strategically aligned on the parking lot as a pseudo annex, there was no room for my two math classes.  The rest of my job assignment was Career and Personal Planning (CAPP) 8-10, so I did not have 5 other math classes to merit a portable or classroom of my own.  Be flexible.  Why not?  I changed my job assignment from a full-time math teacher to CAPP/math teacher.  I was looking for change, so why not change locations too?  Loved it.  Loved making the portable into a Math 12 Mecca.  Loved the kids.  We had a tonne of fun and learning math was super fun.  We were a family.  This is what I truly miss about teaching in the classroom.  I miss the relationships created with students.  I miss the challenge of transforming student beliefs about learning math.  I miss the creativity.  I miss the crazy randomness of the classroom.  Recently, I was asked (again), “Do you miss teaching?” This is a difficult question to answer.  I miss many aspects of classroom teaching.  Ultimately, I miss the kids.  But I don’t miss teaching because I still teach.  I tutor math.  I facilitate workshops.  And, I assist Master of Education students at SFU.  “I am teaching.”