WeAreTeachers Blog

[#1]

Okay, so we know you're going to be raking it in with personalized coffee mugs and puffy painted tote bags in a few weeks, but that doesn't stop you from daydreaming about the things you really want this holiday season.  Here are 10 things to top your teacher wish list this year:

1. A teacher's lounge coffee shop.  Say buh-bye to the old Gevalia that someone picked up at a garage sale and hello to a fully stocked coffee bar complete with a speedy barista who can  stir you up a double mocha with whip in three seconds flat.
2. Technology that always works.  We've all been there:  You've planned an amazing lesson that involves an amazing video streaming through a projector and individual readings on e-Readers and then you realize 4 minutes before class starts that the website you're using to steam videos is down for maintenance and the e-Readers didn't get charged by the last teacher. And you're back at ground zero.  This year, make your wish for technology that never, ever (ever) breaks, fails to charge, or is down for maintenance so that every lesson you teach goes smoothly. 
3. Copying elves.  Is it really too much to ask for a team of little elves who pick up all of your copying tasks and deliver them back to you stapled and collated the next day? I mean, it's not like you're asking for grading elves.  Or Chai tea fetching elves.
4. The ability to wear sweats to school without looking unprofessional.  Teaching is definitely not a desk job.  And with your daily routine of up at the board, down to help a student, turn around to grab an assignment, your clothes tend to get a little, let's just say, ruffled.  But, if you were allowed to wear a comfy sweat suit to school—throw in a pair of slippers to round out the deal—that problem would go away, wouldn't it?
5. Celebrity volunteers.  We're guessing that if you had Justin Bieber guest teaching in your music class or LeBron James heading up your basketball unit in P.E., you'd have no problem getting the kids to stay focused and on-task.  Just saying.
6. Cafeteria food that's not only edible, but delicious.  You're probably not the only teacher that's dreamed of seeing Jamie Oliver walk into your school and transform your cafeteria into a regular bistro—but seriously, wouldn't that be amazing?  Maybe if every teacher in your school signs a petition?
7. A supplies budget.  We once heard of a school that had an "Excellence Fund" set up by parents where teachers could request any supplies they needed—everything from an iPad lab to class sets of books—and the items would be signed, sealed and delivered to their classroom within a week with a red bow on top. Here's to wishing for an excellence fund for every teacher, everywhere so that you're never lacking the supplies you need to make your lessons great.
8. A germ force field.  Schools are regular germ factories in the winter—and from runny noses to hacking coughs to sick days, by January, you're usually ready to buy up stock in the anti-bac company.  But, if you had some sort of force field around your classroom that kept all germs and sickness out and guaranteed that no one would get sick all winter, well, that problem would go away.   A germ-killing force field…that's not too much to ask, is it?
9. Real (five minute) bathroom breaks.  Speaking of not too much to ask, you've probably gotten pretty adept at managing to use the bathroom and wash your hands in 12 seconds flat—but imagine how your life would change if you had five whole minutes to go to the bathroom during the school day.
10. More smiles.  Isn't it funny that no matter what happens during your day—whether your lessons fall flat or your shoes give you a blister—one toothy grin from a kid can make the day great?  So, this year, wish for more smiles, more hugs, more thank yous and more time to spend with the kids who make your job what it is.

Question for you: What do YOU really want this year?

[#2]

[#3]

What I really want is another copier in the school more centrally located.  The only one for teachers is not near the classrooms and breaks down regularly. This is a wish for all the teachers at my school; however, it's not on the principal's radar.

[#4]

If only the copier worked regularly, I wouldn't even need the elves.  Although elves would be good too!