Lost Your Passion For Teaching? 6 Questions To Get You Back On Track

It’s nearly the end of the school year and many teachers are counting down the days until it’s all over. It’s that time of year when perhaps you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed, a bit tired, and lacking in direction. Perhaps you might even be feeling that you’ve lost your passion for teaching.

Here’s 6 questions you can ask to help get your passion back, and get you back on track.

1. Why did I choose this profession?

Remind yourself of this incredible profession you are in. Teaching is the profession that teaches all others. As teachers, every day we have the opportunity to influence and shape young lives. What a privilege. What an honour.

2. What a-ha moments have I had along the way?

Think back to a time when you had an ‘a-ha’ moment that inspired you as a teacher. Perhaps it was a great lesson you taught. Perhaps it was seeing a student grasp a concept and you were there to witness their success. Perhaps it was a time when you just ‘knew’ teaching was the thing for you. Remember that ‘a-ha’ moment and let it reignite your passion for teaching.

3. When specifically have I felt motivated and passionate?

Think back over your time as a teacher and identify times when you felt passionate. What do you notice about those times? Are there any common themes? What was it that contributed to you feeling passionate and engaged? Being able to identify what motivates you is an important part of keeping your passion alive.

4. At what point did my passion start to dwindle?

Can you identify a particular time when you felt you were losing your heart for teaching? Was it a particular experience? What contributed to that feeling? Has it happened more than once? A teacher who remains passionate is aware of potential things that can damage that passion, and responds accordingly.

5. Who inspires me and why?

One of the best things you can do to regain your passion is to find someone who motivates you and inspires you. Is it a fellow colleague? Is it someone who’s been successful in his or her chosen field of endeavour? Is it an artist or a sportsperson? What is it about that specific person that motivates you? Let their motivation be a positive influence on you. Let their motivation influence yours and put a spring back in your step.

6. What are five things I can be grateful for?

Grateful is the new happy. One of the quickest ways for you to re-ignite your passion is to be intentionally grateful. Be thankful for what you have, for the experiences you’ve had, for your relationships, for the life you get to live. Find 5 things to be grateful for. I encourage you, stop reading right now and just take a moment (yep, that’s all it takes, just a moment) to think of 5 things you can be genuinely grateful for.

Enjoy the journey,

And more importantly,

Enjoy the moments.

🙂

Megan