Relationships with Students
Definitely, the students are number one in making me happy about teaching. And I think [in our school], we're really focused on relationships. We have something (…) like a home room, but more expansive. We meet for fifty minutes twice a week. And then we have trips, so I go on a camping trip every year with kids—actually two camping trips (…) So we do so many things with students beyond the classroom where you get to develop really close relationships, which have obviously a huge benefit in the classroom. And then even in the classroom, I go by my first name. Everyone goes by their 1st name. It's very informal and you develop really close relationships with students.”
“I just think it’s fun because they're so smart and silly (…) So I think probably the part that makes me happiest is just the lovely kids and loving them and them loving me back.”
Creative Problem-Solving
“Then I also love the creative and problem solving part of it. I love designing lessons and then teaching the lesson—and then being like, ‘Wow, that really worked.’ (…) Or ‘Why did that not work? What happened that made that such a flop?’ and that constantly assessing. It's the lesson and it's the kids in the room. So it's like, ‘Well, this that I did last year, that really worked. There's no way that's going to work for this group. I have to change it in this way.’ I love that kind of creative and intellectual problem solving.”