Teaching is a lifestyle - not a job

"Teachers get it easy. They work from 9am till 3pm, have every weekend off and then a huge 6 week holiday in the summer, plus half terms and time off at Christmas".

Many people have said something similar, if not identical to me many times. I thought a good way to start this blog would be to discuss this opinion. 

Yes, we do get those holiday times off throughout the year, but what does 'off' actually mean? If it simply means not having to get up every morning and go into school for the school day, then yes I believe we do get it off. However, if 'off' is used to describe my time during the summer, at weekends, half terms or at Christmas as time when I can stay in bed all day, watch Jeremy Kyle and not think about school at all, then the opinion is slightly warped.

I always say to people 'teaching is a lifestyle choice, not simply a job'. I say this because without being a teacher or spending a lot of time with a teacher you wouldn't know what it is like.  A simple shop to the supermarket becomes the weekly food shop plus an opportunity to stock up on boxes for your junk modelling area, a chance to quickly grab some extra Pritt Sticks because some little swine has left the lids off of your new glues and they have solidified, a moment to get the bread, jam, butter, Marmite, honey for tomorrow's toast making session..... You get the idea.

Teaching is the best job in the world and in my opinion to be a successful teacher you need to 'live' the role. Always thinking, always planning and always on the lookout for things that can improve your practice.  To live the role you simply cannot just have time 'off' - you have to become it.

Work/life balance is important and I always try to make sure I have the time to do thing other things I love doing - watching football, spending time with my girlfriend, watching films, but it is very tough to not have a constant to -do list buzzing around your head.