Why Teaching Never Leaves You – World Teachers’ Day

4 mins read
Rupert Denton

Wednesday October 5 marks World Teacher’s Day, a very special occasion celebrated in more than 100 countries worldwide. Having come to ClickView from teaching I can attest to what an extraordinary job teaching is and I can also vouch for the extraordinary work that teachers do every day.

Reflecting on my own time teaching I find myself thinking that the most rewarding parts of being in the classroom weren’t when those overly ambitious lesson plans actually worked (a rare occurrence), or when students did particularly well on an assessment or project, rewarding though these moments were.

For me the most rewarding moments were the jokes swapped, the banter traded, sharing a moment of delight when a penny dropped or something clicked, the first greetings in the morning and the last farewells in the afternoon. It was the hundreds of fleeting, sometimes imperceptible, moments that, taken together, define what it means to be a teacher, to be part of a community that was simultaneously messy and complicated and vibrant and fantastic.

Teacher Skype Call
That time I got my Homegroup to stand on their desks over Skype. This is why I love teaching.

It’s not because of the money or recognition that teaching remains etched into my soul, indeed it’s a hugely challenging job with (scandalously) little material reward. Instead, I think teaching – the process of fanning the flames of curiosity, nurturing people trying to find their way, and indeed being nurtured in return – is a profession that rewards constantly in mysterious and intangible ways.

So thank you to all of my former teachers, my colleagues currently in the classroom, and students both past and present who have helped me to discover those secret rewards knowable only to those who have taught and continue to teach.

Videos for World Teachers Day

To help ring in this special day I’ve gone through the ClickView Exchange and plucked out some programmes contributed by our outstanding community of ClickView users that really showcase the power of teaching and education.

If you’re already a ClickView customer you can access these videos as well as over 20,000 more through the ClickView Exchange, copy them to your personal workspace and push them in to your school’s ClickView library. Otherwise, you can request a free trial today.

flipped-teacher

Flipped Education

One of the most rewarding aspects of my work at ClickView is working with dedicated, innovative and passionate teachers who flip their classroom. Flipped education is a really exciting development in the use of video for transforming the way classrooms operate. To quote one of the world’s leading flipped educators, Jeremy LeCornu: Flipped education is all about maximising face-to-face time with students. The process allows for direct instruction to occur outside of class and tasks that enable deeper understanding to occur during class using the time saved. The teachers I work with hail from across the UK, Australia and New Zealand and each of them are unfailingly dedicated to their craft and it is nothing short of incredible. Be sure to check out Liam Dunne’s Design and Technology flipped videos on the ClickView Exchange.

teacher

School Swap: The Class Divide

In this thought-provoking programme a headteacher and students from Warminster School and Bemrose Secondary School trade places for five days and in the process reveal the divide in educational equity that exists in Britain. The programme highlights a whole range of issues on both side of the educational divide in the UK. The programme also showcases the unceasing dedication that is exhibited by teachers across the country and despite the challenging circumstances that face them each day. Watch School Swap: The Class Divide.

Tough Young Teachers

This powerful and candid series follows the trials and tribulations of six new teachers undertaking the Teach First programme whereby they receive accelerated entry into disadvantaged schools. The episodes highlight in no uncertain terms that the young people in schools are not the only pupils, as computers crash, classrooms whip into out-of-control excitement, teachers have small wins by quick thinking on their feet, and phone calls to parents go awry. In the end, the programme highlights the triumphs and stumbles that make up every teacher’s day and in many ways make teaching so uniquely enjoyable. Watch the series Tough Young Teachers here. 

Dead Poets Society

Dead Poet’s Society

When I moved out to the country to teach the film most cited by my friends and family was Dead Poet’s Society. Naturally, I fell well short of these expectations and standing on desks was more a product of an early teacher’s lack of control than a seasoned teacher’s love of poetry. Dead Poet’s Society, although heightened by Hollywood writing, succeeds at conveying that classic story of the inspirational teacher. Almost everyone can remember that teacher who stuck with them, pushed them to go further, try harder, take risks or just generally fostered a class you looked forward to everyday. Dead Poet’s Society is powerfully evocative in helping reflect on those teachers that had a profound impact on our own lives and reminds us of the truly inspirational potential that teaching harbours. Watch Dead Poet’s Society here.

If you have any suggestions for programmes currently on free-to-air television that you feel would make a great resource for teachers and students feel free to contact us: rupert.denton@clickview.co.uk