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Personal stories

Many teachers choose primary teaching because every day is so varied. As well as teaching a variety of subjects within a wide curriculum, primary teachers get to share their sporting and cultural interests.

Demand for primary teachers has increased in recent years as extra teaching positions have been created through the introduction of Classroom Release Time and the lowering of the staff to student ratio in new entrant classes. There is an ongoing need for primary teachers in the Auckland region and for male primary teachers throughout New Zealand.

To discover why primary teachers find their jobs so satisfying, read their personal stories. They're all so different.

“Primary teaching is fantastic – I enjoy all of it. It’s a job where you see results for your efforts. It makes you feel good to see how much children progress in a year and know you’ve had a part to play in that development.”

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"This is not a nine to five job - it is very demanding at times but things never happen the same way twice, and that makes it exciting."

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“Teaching is a great career. It’s so flexible. Depending on other commitments, teachers have options to work full time, part time or in a relieving capacity. It’s also possible to take periods of time out to achieve other goals. It’s great.”

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Janene is excited about the future of education. “It is becoming more child centred, chalk and talk. Education is making more room for the arts, which are so important for children’s learning. I am a facilitator of children’s learning; not just a teacher.”

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“There is so much to be achieved with these little sponges. It’s important to get the teaching right as it has such an impact on them for the rest of their lives.”

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“With so many different facets to my work, I enjoy waking up each day and going to work. It’s great to be able to pursue things with the kids that I am passionate about like sport and music.”

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“I enjoy teaching for a whole raft of reasons. Sometimes it’s simply because a single lesson has worked really well and other times it’s because a child has produced a wonderful piece of work. "

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“As a Pasifika teacher, I’d also love to see more Pasifika people entering teaching. You become a role model for the kids as well as the parents and can relate to their concerns more easily. I get the greatest satisfaction from preparing kids for the future.”

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