Reviewed 06/27/2009 by Rebecca Boudin
There are people out there who do not understand what the life of a teacher is like. They’re not difficult to find.
They’re the ones who think teachers have an easy job, one that pays far too much for only nine months of work out of the year.
They’re the ones who might not admit it, but really think our educators are nothing more than glorified babysitters.
Only those of us who have gotten a glimpse at a teacher’s life, either by doing or purposefully observing, truly understand how much work a teacher is expected to do.
There are lessons to plan, papers to grade, parents to meet, meetings to attend, classrooms to design and decorate, fights to settle, discipline to be determined, etc.
Contrary to popular belief, a teacher’s job does not end when the final bell rings.
Nancy Oelklaus is someone who understands all the stresses and strains of an educator. In her book, Alphabet Meditations for Teachers, she provides teachers with a way to refocus themselves and prepare for a new day in the classroom.