A Hard Day's Work

Whenever someone asks about my job, I am eager to tell them about my students, my fellow teachers, my principal, and the entire community! I have been blessed with the most amazing teaching job. I could brag about them all for hours! This you have heard from me before! But I have realized that I have something that really bugs me when it comes to people asking about my job. It happens when they ask this question:

"How many students do you have?"

I have to physically restrain myself from freaking out when they ask. I teach five students. Yes, five. I know, it is an extremely small amount of students. I teach at a very small Christian school. I am so proud to teach there and so proud to teach those five fantastic students! That's not the problem.

The problem is people's response to my answer. I get a very surprised "Oh, wow!" and often times followed up with a joke about how easy I must have it or how I must just get to sit back and relax or how do I even have a job?

Yes, teaching 5 students is much easier than teaching 20! I will not deny that for even a second. But please, please do not think that I don't work hard at my job.

Because I teach at a Christian school, I hold a special responsibility. Parents who send their students to Christian schools are willingly paying a whole lot more money for their students' education. Many families sacrifice so, so much to be able to afford it. My parents did! This being said, these parents and students deserve to get the best education they can. It is my responsibility as the teacher to challenge myself to deliver just that each and every day. And with five students, I am able to teach to each of my students and meet their individual needs. We are able to do projects and activities in the classroom that would not be possible with a larger class. I push myself to be constantly thinking about new ideas, projects, and lessons because I am able to with my small group of pupils.

I am still a second year teacher. I still have my struggles and I still fall short. I am still learning. But I am working hard each day to become better and to teach my heart out to my amazing five students.