When choosing to be an Elementary Education major I thought I had a clear idea about what teaching would be like.
Teachers have summers and weekends off, they get to work with little kids, and maybe coach a sport.
Coaching a variety of age groups in softball and volleyball gave me the opportunity to experience what it would be like working with children. While observing at the Salem Elementary school, I was able to experience more then making lesson plans. I realized that to become a successful teacher you have to put in long hours and that just because the students are gone by three doesn't mean your day is over. There are teachers meetings, parent conferences, extra curricular activities, and many other things that teachers do when the students are not in school. Teachers also work very hard when the students are in the classroom.