“I’ve seen things, you people wouldn’t believe. Ofsted inspectors laughing and smiling. I’ve watched children enjoying their learning near the end of term. All those moments will be lost in time, like so many tweets on a #hashtag. Time to blog.”
Enough of the Blade Runner parody and time for some serious reflection. When @ICTEvangelist suggested a highlight of my teaching career two things ran through the dark corridors of my mind. Firstly, it’s not over, there are many more highlights to come. Second was a sort of Rocky style montage of glorious moments. It included amazing places I’ve been, personal achievements, interesting things I’ve researched, people I’ve helped and inspirational people I’ve met. Realistically that would just be a tour of my ego and nobody wants to go there. I assume every teacher could reel off an assortment of such things and would have every right to be proud of them.
It got me thinking about why I really love my job; I’ve got teaching like some people have got religion. It’s not about the big events, it’s about the fleeting moments of magic you wish would last forever. When you see a students confidence grow or produce work they thought was beyond them. The eureka moments when you see that a learner gets it, whatever it is. The sharing of ideas with colleagues. The joy of new toys to play with, I mean educational props to aid learning of course, ahem! When a student thinks beautifully and you know you helped to create that moment. The many wonderful trips and school events. These fleeting moments are the real highlights of my teaching career.
Again I’m sure that any teacher could share countless moments like these and you know what, I think they should. There’s nothing wrong with the passion we have for our profession and for pedagogy; celebrate it and share it I say.
Barry Dunn – @SeahamRE
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