If This Is You... Teaching Might Not Be for You

Mar 20, 2026

Teach Like a TopTEN™ Blog

If This Is You… Teaching Might Not Be for You

A real talk blog for teachers who are ready to stop blaming, stop coasting, and start getting better.

Teaching is hard. But let’s be honest — sometimes it’s harder because of the habits, excuses, and weak moves teachers keep repeating. This post is not for everyone. Good. That’s the point.

I remember the exact moment someone called me out.

I was standing at the front of my classroom—again—waiting.

“Class… I’ll wait.”

I had already said it three times.

A few kids snapped to attention.
A few didn’t. It was like popcorn.

And if I’m being honest? I started losing the ones who were doing the right thing.

My savvy kids were practically giving me the side-eye like… she can’t be serious right now.

And there I was—losing time, losing momentum, and getting more frustrated by the second.

Later that day, a coach pulled me aside and said:

“You know, when you say ‘I’ll wait’… you’re actually training them to wait you out. And you’re lowering your expectations for everyone else.”

And just like that—I couldn’t unhear it.

Because she was right.

I didn’t love hearing it. But I was honestly shocked at how ridiculous it sounded once it was pointed out.

And the worst part? I wasn’t the only one doing it. I still hear teachers say it all the time.

The Real Issue

That moment changed how I looked at everything.

Because it wasn’t just about one phrase.

It was about something bigger:

The habits we hold onto
The things we keep doing—even when they’re not working
The way we practice bad strategies into permanence

And here’s the hard truth:

You can change… if you want to.

But some teachers don’t.

And that’s where things fall apart.

So yes—If this is you… teaching might not be for you.

Not because you’re a bad person. But because this job demands a lot—and it demands growth.

If This Is You…

1. You’re not growing

Everyone loves to throw around the “10,000 hours” idea.

But here’s the problem:

If you’re practicing the wrong things, you’re just getting really good at bad habits.

Teaching takes feedback, modeling, coaching, trying, tweaking, failing, and reflecting. Every single day.

If you don’t have a growth mindset, you will stay stuck.

Classrooms don’t improve on autopilot. They improve when teachers do.

2. You won’t do the reps

Let’s be real.

Teaching does take time outside the classroom.

And so do most professional jobs.

You are a professional. That means prepping, planning, creating, and thinking deeply about your students’ experience.

Somewhere along the way, teachers were told not to work beyond contract hours.

I’m going to say it: that mindset will keep you average.

If you love this work, you put in the reps. That’s how you get better.

3. You don’t seek or apply feedback

This one is huge.

If you’re not getting feedback, you’re guessing.

And if you’re not applying feedback, you’re choosing to stay the same.

Read Practice Perfect. Watch great teachers. Invite someone into your room.

Better yet—record yourself teaching and watch it back.

Watch what your students are doing.

Most teachers don’t lack effort. They lack awareness.

4. You blame everything but your practice

In 20+ years, here’s what I’ve seen:

Kids are kids.

Yes, there are challenges. Yes, some groups are tougher than others.

But we all know those teachers who get the “hard” class every year…and still crush it.

That’s not luck. That’s skill.

At some point, you have to ask:

“What am I doing that’s allowing this to continue?”

That question changed everything for me.

5. You’re negative about everything

You’ve heard it before—you’re the sum of the people around you.

So if every conversation is complaining, venting, and blaming… what do you think your classroom feels like?

If you truly don’t like teaching, it’s okay to leave.

But if you stay? Then get better.

Teaching is an incredible career—when you build the skill to do it well. When you improve, the job gets easier. If you don’t, every year will feel just as hard.

The Shift

If you’re still reading this, here’s what I know:

You care.

Because the teachers who don’t? They stopped reading a long time ago.

The best teachers I know aren’t perfect.

But they are constantly asking:

What can I do differently?
What can I improve?
What system can I build so this runs better tomorrow?

What Changed Everything

Everything changed for me when I stopped relying on:

constant reminders
repeating directions
reacting in the moment

And started building around:

✔ Student Voice

✔ High Expectations

✔ Relationships

That’s when my classroom started to run smoother.

That’s when teaching got lighter.

TEACH LIKE A TOPTEN™

Keep Building the Classroom You Actually Want to Teach In

Strong classroom culture is not built from random activities. It is built through the routines, expectations, language, relationships, and student ownership students experience again and again.

Instead of asking,
“What activity can I do?”

Start asking,
“What experience can I create for my students?”

21 DAYS TO A STRONGER START

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One small move each day to build routines, expectations, student voice, relationships, and a First 3 Days Launch Plan™ you can actually use.

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Keep Reading

Want to keep building culture first? Here are a few teacher favorites for routines, classroom community, student ownership, and stronger classroom systems.

01 The One Ritual That Transformed My Classroom Culture

02 How One 15-Minute Weekly Habit Transforms Classroom Behavior and Classroom Culture

03 Classroom Organization That Builds Community, Not Just a Pretty Room

FREE CLASSROOM RESET TOOL

Start With 12 Brain Breaks You Can Actually Use

Grab the free guide with simple, low-prep brain breaks that help students refocus, participate, and reconnect with learning.

Get the Free Brain Breaks Guide →

ABOUT SARAH

This Is Not Another Classroom Management Quick Fix

I’m Sarah Legault, founder of the Teachers Empowerment Network, instructional coach, and former classroom teacher with more than 20 years of experience helping teachers build stronger classrooms.

My work is built on one belief:

Culture first. Behavior second.

That does not mean behavior does not matter. It means behavior makes more sense when the classroom culture, routines, expectations, relationships, and student ownership are intentionally built first.

I do not help teachers collect more random tips. I help teachers build practical, culture-first frameworks they can actually use — frameworks that make the small moments of teaching stronger: how students enter, talk, transition, participate, reflect, take ownership, and contribute to the classroom community.

My work is rooted in three core pillars: High Expectations, Student Voice, and Relationships. When those pillars are built intentionally, classroom management becomes less about chasing behavior and more about building the conditions where students can learn, participate, and grow.

Real Talk. Real Tools. Real Results.

If you are tired of piecing together random ideas and hoping they work, you are in the right place.

Build the classroom you actually WANT to teach in.

Some links in this post may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share classroom tools and self-care products I’ve personally used or genuinely believe support effective teaching and teacher well-being. Thank you for supporting the Teachers Empowerment Network aka Top TEN Teachers Network.