How to love teaching again

Have you lost your spark for teaching? Do you want to love teaching again?

This post is just for you! 

Teaching is a hard gig. I don’t know any actual teachers who would argue this point. 

I know a lot of teachers who started out in the profession and LOVED it.

But… the endless nights marking, the disrespect from students, and the constantly moving goalposts from administration meant they fell out of love with the profession.  

If this resonates with you then you are in the right place! 

This was also me. But I have re-found my love for teaching and I am excited to share some of the things I found helpful along the way in the hope that they may also help you re-ignite your love for teaching. 

There are many things that are out of our control as teachers. I just wanted to pause here to say that this blog post is not about dwelling on things we cannot control. Rather it is designed to give you real options for finding your way back to the love of teaching you once had.

So grab a coffee and sit back and relax while I give you some strategies to help re-ignite that flame!

Disclaimer: This blog post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something from these links I may get a small commission to help support this blog (with no extra cost to you).  Read full disclaimer here. 

If you are reading this then I know two things about you:

1. Firstly, you have lost the spark you once had for teaching. 

Probably not because of the actual teaching, but because of all the other things I mentioned earlier. You’re exhausted. You are not sure this is sustainable anymore. You’re no longer sure that this is the profession for you.

I’ve been here too. Actually, I’ve been here multiple times.

2. Secondly, and more importantly, you are not ready to give up! You want to love teaching again!

The fact you are reading this blog means you are not ready to let go of the profession you once loved. Good on you! You are amazing. Even in the thick of it all you are looking for a solution!

That part is easy. But what happens when that feeling goes away? Or what if your original ‘why’ is no longer relevant?

I have been teaching for over 10 years and there have been many times that the spark I had when I started, was diminished. And if I’m honest, its not the teaching part I fall out of love with. It’s everything else. The office politics. The staff room gossip. The forever increasing administration. The constantly moving goalposts set from those who have been out of the classroom too long. 

So how do you get it back? What can you do?

6 ways to love teaching again

Here are my 6 C’s for how to love teaching again (and stay in love with teaching):

1. How to love teaching again: Create

Create something. 

Being creative is good for the soul and can help you be excited about something you are in control of. 

There are so many things that are out of your control as a teacher. Take ownership over the things you can control and find joy in completing a project of your own.  

Therefore, create a new resource, a new classroom display, a new way of assessing, a new program. Create something that you are proud of.  

2. How to love teaching again: Connect 

Connect with other teachers who love what they do. 

A big part of keeping your own flame burning is being a part of a team. Knowing you’re not in it alone and also being with like-minded people who are on the same path as you, or who have been on that path before. Seeing passion and love for the profession bursting from others can help fan the flame for you too. 

We are so blessed to be able to have so many ways we can connect with other teachers. Whether it be through professional network systems, Facebook groups, LinkedIn, conferences or webinars. 

3. How to love teaching again: Contribute 

Contribute to others in the profession.

Contributing to others in the profession may help you find purpose and excitement again.

While your students and perhaps even your current staff team may not be appreciative of your efforts, there are so many teachers out there craving your experience and ideas. By sharing with them you may find a new purpose in your career and reignite that passion for education.

4. How to love teaching again: Conference

Attend a conference. 

Conferences have a way of providing new ideas and atmosphere that get teachers buzzing with excitement. 

If you have the opportunity to attend a conference with a like-minded teaching friend then your ‘buzz’ could be tenfold. Having someone to talk about what you learnt with and discuss the new concepts and how you could apply them to your context is priceless. This also allows for the excitement of the conference to last longer as you return to school together and implement those new ideas.

If you can’t get to a conference then I highly recommend watching some TED talks. Here are my top 9 TED talks for teachers which will make you laugh, challenge your thinking and inspire you. 

5. How to love teaching again: Communicate 

Communicate with your administration, colleagues, family and students.

• With your administration / leadership team

Have you tried to communicate your feelings or frustrations with your team leader or administration staff? 

While it can feel hard to approach them with your thoughts, it is worth trying to communicate with them to find some sort of solution.

Depending on the reason you feel you have fallen out of love with teaching, it could be that small changes from your leadership or administration staff could make a difference. Even just setting out to have this conversation could help you pinpoint the exact issues that you feel are weighing you down. 

• With your colleagues

You may not be the only one feeling this way. Sharing your feelings with your colleagues could help you find someone who is also seeking to re-ignite their passion for teaching.

Setting out on the path to love teaching again with a colleague could give you both accountability and someone to bounce ideas off.

• With your family

Your family may have already picked up on the fact that you are falling out of love with your profession. But it could be worth talking through some solutions with them. They may have some helpful insight into what may help you move forward. Whether it be setting some boundaries regarding bringing work home, helping you to use weekends for your own mental health, or just reminding you what you used to love about teaching.

• With your students

If you follow me on Instagram you will have heard me harp on about building relationships with your students. Why? Because the more time you spend with them, the more you will enjoy spending time with them. They have personality and a sense of humour. They are fun!

Building positive connections with your students may remind you why you used to enjoy teaching.