Every teacher should have a solid theoretical background before they delve into the unknown. And the unknown is teaching because, let’s face it, every day in class is a completely different day. And that’s where theory doesn’t prepare you for what is coming.

A student is misbehaving, you are having problems with classroom management, your classes are not moving forward, rude parents, deadlines and the list could go on. You have tried every single thing you read in your theory books and still, nothing worked. How can that be? When you read your theory, everything seemed so easy, because there was an answer to every problem.

And do you remember how much everyone ranted about how important it is to write a lesson plan before entering the classroom? It is important to know what and how you are going to teach, but what nobody told you is that you should be prepared to throw the lesson plan out of the window. The same lesson plan you spent hours of precious personal time writing. Because things don’t often go as planned. Teaching is all about flexibility and being able to change your lesson to fit your students’ needs. 

If you have ever experienced any of the situations described above, you know how it feels. You feel frustrated and maybe you question your teaching skills, even think about quitting. We have all been through that stage. 

And here’s the moment of truth: it’s not always your fault. There will always be moments or situations which, no matter how hard you try, things don’t improve. It happens. Because we don’t live in Theory. We live in the real world, with real problems and real people. And there are a lot of variables to consider about each problem.

So, my advice is: do not get discouraged or disappointed if you cannot handle things the way theory tells you. You are not alone in this! Always try to do your best, come to class prepared, be funny, be serious, tell a joke sometimes or not, build mutual trust and understanding with your students, love your job, find time for yourself, get a hobby, laugh, enjoy a cup of coffee during recess, talk with your fellow teachers, watch a movie or a TV series and stop worrying about Theory, with a capital T, because it is a place you will only find in books!