Teachers or Superheroes ?

When it comes to teaching, the work in class is the easy part and I mean it.

The work we have to do out of the class is the one that can sometimes " do the damage". Do you feel like that?

Let's see:

Prepare classes....No! Wait a second: prepare GREAT classes- that takes a big chunk of your time.

Prepare homework, correct the homework.

Learn new things, be updated on the latest technologies, have a blog, keep your blog updated, share activities with teachers, upload your material at Edmodo.

Gee! There goes my mornings.

Go to class, try to stablish a good rapport with your students, try to get respect and discipline at the same time, try to get along with parents, try to get their children to speak English, try to get their children to do homework.Put everything in the system.

Check the files, check who is going to stay after class, send students to the library, call the parents, put everything in the system.

Write the absences, hand the control slip of absent student, record everything in the system.

Check who is discouraged. Call, send e-mails. Talk to the mother, father, aunt, nanny.Put it in the system.

NOTE: Have an orkut account will help you "remember" their birthdays

Record it on the system.

Be aware of the schedule! Record it in the sy.....Ops!

While you keep an eye on the schedule come up with a presentation for the students to perform to their parents.

Worry about their grades, worry about their motivation, worry about their feedback. Put it in the system???

Participate on the institution's meeting, discussion, tests....

In the end of the day, you might hear a compliment and that is always nice. Right?

In the end of the day you might have to deal with criticism and that is natural and bla bla bla but it is also soul crushing sometimes.

That is a typical day. Just one.

Is it normal to go to bed at night and mentally go through the things you did hoping that you didn't leave anything behind?

Is it normal to wonder if all this work is worth it since- Let's face it- you are never gonna get rich doing it?

I must fall under a cliche to answer that one:

The love for an institution won't be enough. You must really love the choice you've made, the path of education. That information will NOT be in the system.