Remembering What You Love About Teaching

There’s a moment every teacher knows well. It usually arrives somewhere between the third behaviour log of the morning and the pile of marking you swear wasn’t that big yesterday. You pause, breathe, and think: “Why am I doing all this again?”

If that’s you right now, you’re not losing your way — you’re human. And actually, you’re asking the right question.

Because when the days feel heavy, reconnecting with your why isn’t a fluffy wellbeing exercise. It’s the anchor that keeps you steady in a profession that pulls you in twenty directions at once. (And yes, it pulls hard.) 

Why We Lose Sight of Our Why

Teaching is emotional work.

You give, every day — praise, energy, encouragement, emotional regulation, calm you sometimes don’t feel. And you do it while juggling behaviour, curriculum demands, SEN needs, and last-minute SLT walk-throughs. It’s no wonder your purpose gets buried under the “to-do” avalanche.

Most teachers aren’t struggling because they don’t care. They’re struggling because they care so much.

Your Why Is Still There — It Just Needs Space

Your why often hides in the small, quiet moments:

• The pupil who finally reads a full page aloud
• The child who beams when you notice their effort
• The tricky class that settles because your routine makes them feel safe
• The SEN pupil whose eyes light up at a visual prompt they finally understand

These moments aren’t accidents — they’re the result of your consistency, your care, and the structure you create every day. That’s the heart of teaching. And even when you’re exhausted, that magic doesn’t stop happening. 

Practical Ways to Reconnect With Your Why

Because you don’t need more theory. You need something that fits into your actual day.

1. Notice the tiny wins

Teachers often underestimate the power of small shifts — but pupils don’t. A simple sticker, a quiet word of praise, or a visual reminder can completely change a pupil’s confidence.

2. Make space for the moments that matter

You don’t need an hour of reflection — 30 seconds is enough.

Jot a win on a sticky note. Share a moment in the staffroom. Let yourself recognise the good you’ve done today.

3. Simplify the noise

You don’t have to create everything from scratch. Ready-to-use tools free up mental space so you can focus on the part of teaching you actually love: the children.

4. Ask yourself the real question

Not “How do I get through this week?”

But “What part of teaching feels most meaningful to me — and how can I make more space for that?”

The Truth You Probably Need to Hear Today

You’re already making a difference.

You’re already helping pupils feel seen.

You’re already doing more good than you realise.

Reconnecting with your why isn’t about becoming a new teacher — it’s about remembering the one you already are.