Looking for a change.

what the hell!

Hi guys! 37 yr old male primary teacher here. I'm in my 12th year teaching and things are just a little stale. Things are just not very exciting. I'm just going through the motions in school and getting cranky with the kids. They're a great class though. The motivation is hard to find.

I'm not entirely sure though what I can do. I was looking at doing a few years of teaching abroad but then I was thinking should I just leave the teaching altogether for a bit and just give it a break. A change of career? But where would I go, what would I do?

I suppose all I'm wondering has anyone any experience of this. I would imagine plenty get the itch. Has anyone done something and gone away and come back to the classroom with a bit more of a pep in their step?

RealJohn

I’ve found that it goes in cycles. If you can move schools, try that first. I had that itch, and it went away when we had a change of management and it turned out that it wasn’t teaching but (some of) those I was teaching with.

That being said, the lack of opportunities for advancement is definitely giving me itchy feet, but the actual teaching is fine again, now that I don’t find the management contemptible.

starlady1

You could try an exchange and teach in another school but I think the deadline has passed.

The PDST advertise occasionally. You can go on secondment but generally most people start out part time before moving onto a full time post.

dory

I've just applied for a secondment. I don't think I'll like the office based work as much as teaching, but I absolutely need a change. Mightn't get it, and if I don't I'll look for something else like inspectorate, PDST. We have JC for Teachers and the new Leaving Cert gang as well we can work with. I presume primary has the same. NCCA have opportunities from time to time as well. I'd work abroad if I could but have commitments here.

what the hell!

Thanks guys for the bits of advice. I'm too late now this year for a change of school or anything like that so what I'm thinking of doing is doing a part time online course or two that isn't related to education. At least it will be something totally new and different and might send me in a different direction.

dory

Sounds good. There are lots of things ex teachers go on to do. Some of my college friends now work in PR, science, few gone into politics, the inspectorate and one's a guard!