A teacher has so many roles. Some may seem more important than others, but I submit that the most important role that a teacher plays is a juggler. A teacher must be able to do many things at once without dropping the ball. Being a teacher is quite possibly the closest thing to being a mother, it requires 24/7 time and heart investments. A teacher rarely gets to leave their work at work. When it comes home with them, the work also becomes their family's work. I am not saying that other jobs don't have sacrifices similar, but I AM saying that being a teacher requires great sacrifice. The juggling act that a teacher does is emotional, mental, physical as well as social. Keeping all of these balls in motion requires great confidence, endurance, concentration, adaptability, and the list goes on and on.
Ultimately the most important part of this equation is the student. Every role a teacher plays is for the student. So the why to a juggling teacher is because each student is an individual with a unique personality, family life, cultural background, weaknesses, strengths, etc. A teacher needs to be able to quickly transition from one child's needs to another child's needs on demand. Meeting the needs of each student reaches far beyond teaching them the required curriculum. A teacher communicates with parents, resolves concerns between students and for parents, encourages students, is a peacemaker, a storyteller, a nurse, a continued learner, friend, role model, collaborator, and many other wonderful things. Happy juggling my teacher friends!
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