School teacher?!

As I am sure you all know I am going to be entering the Elementary Education Program @ Utah Valley University this Wednesday, and I absolutely cannot wait! Often I get people that say

• "You honestly are going to be a school teacher?"
• "Why would you want to do that to yourself?"
• "You know teachers do not make that much money!?"
• "You are going to be in school the rest of your life, why would you want to do that?!"

I figured I would post a blog entry about why I want to become a teacher. Honestly, why wouldn't I want to become a teacher. So here you go for everyone that thinks I am crazy haha ;)! Sometimes I think I am to... but then I really think about why I want to become one, and I remember how great of an experience it really is going to be!

Ever since I was a little girl I have grown up acting like a teacher. My parents bought my little chalk boards/white boards, I had books gallore, pens, pencils, etc. I would always have my little brothers, cousins, friends, and whoever else I could get my hands on come be my students. I would read to them, "pretend" teach them, write up fake tests for them, and so on so forth. When people would ask me what I want to become when I get older I would always state "a teacher" of course.. Little did I know that I would actual be sitting here in the future, five days away from starting the rest of my life! I know that teachers do not make that much money, but everyone has to remember teachers are really only

• working 9 months out of the year, minus the days they have to go in the summer for workshops or to work on their classrooms.
• I will always have the same schedule as my children.
• Will always be in a heated/air conditioned building.
• Full benefits.
• Full retirement.
• Nights/weekends/holidays OFF
• Most importantly I will be helping children EVERY single day that class is in session.

I look back on my elementary years where I had some good teachers, not so good teachers, and then my GREAT teachers. The two teachers that stand out to me the most are my third and fifth grade teachers. They were awesome and I felt that I learned soo much! I want to be that kind of teacher! I want students to come into my classroom love every second of everyday (which is impossible, but hey I can dream), and then when that bell rings to go home I want them to WANT to come back the next day! I had so many teachers throughout my education thus far that have inspired me, and everyday I strive and will try my hardest to be that for my future students.

My math 2010 teacher once stated, "You guys will be the building blocks to children's futures." -- I agree 100% with this statement. I believe that as a teacher I have the power to make or break someone, and I will do anything in my power to teach, inspire, love, care, etc for my future students. I cannot wait until the day that I get to have my own classroom! I hope that my students will be able to tell that I LOVE my job, and I am not there just because I did not know what else to choose for my major. I believe that if students really tell that I WANT/LOVE to be there to teach them, that it will make them WANT/LOVE to learn that much more! I have done so many observation hours and prep for the education program, and I know each time I prepare that this is what I am suppose to be doing!

Now, YOU tell me: Why SHOULDN'T I become a teacher!?

I know that teaching, like any other job, will have its ups and downs.. but you always prepare for all the "ups" you can right?! Teaching, inspiring, making children feel good about themselves EVERYDAY..now that is MY KIND OF JOB! :)