I can’t open Facebook, Twitter, or any social media outlet without seeing something about teachers these days. Not just about teachers and the students that we see everyday, but specifically, about the stress, the burnout, the tears, the fatigue, the workload, and the pressure that we face on a daily basis. This has been the norm for as long as I can recall, but now, we have the addition of a global pandemic to add into the mix.

Teaching English abroad is probably one of the most rewarding careers. There are several countries that definitely look for local English-speaking teachers. In some countries, you just need college graduation, while others may require teachers with a TEFL certification.

From spit wads to shooters and now the Killer Cough

First up this morning was the Biology undergraduate from Beijing who worries far too much about the difference between the Past Perfect tense and its Past Simple counterpart.

You control your own time.

I would like to preface this by making it abundantly clear that I am aware some experienced teachers will take one glance at this article, and consider me to be a weak individual who lacks the ability to keep up with the rigour of being a teacher. This article is in not intended to slander the education sector in the UK, but rather express how certain aspects of my personality failed to bode well with the job, damaging my mental health; something that many teachers in the country also face.

There are many memories I have from my student teaching days. Some were good. Some were bad. Some were unbelieveable. Some completely dull and useless. The most memorable is a true story, one for which no college course could ever prepare you.

When I was teaching hands-on science, we also gave "prompts" to our students to write and practice their science research projects and write ups. After the writing was over, science teachers from all over the city, gathered together to score the students with predetermined rubric. I will never forget one student's research. The scientific method was impeccable as well as the method to record the results. Even the conclusion was well researched and written to argue her point. The only thing is that further research or even different wording of the prompt may have lead her to an altogether different method and conclusion.

It is really something that some teacher, parent, student exchanges stay with you for the rest of your teaching career. Some are awesomely uplifting. Other incidents that transpire haunt and annoy for years, like Fred Flintstone's little alien, "The Great Gazoo". He was a wise-ass, little green man, that although helpful and wisdom-filled ET at certain moments, he could undermine and confuse Fred's best intentions, hilariously, at other times..

How to be successful in the Microsoft AZ-103 Exam?

When I was a first year teacher, I vowed to myself, that no matter how busy I was, I would always take the time to call parents and tell them something "good" their child has done and to call to share any problems I was having with a child. In one instance, I was totally taken by surprise by the response I received from a parent.