What advice would you give to people considering a career in teaching?
Give yourself time to be good at your job. Expect it to take three years before you become really good at what you're teaching. Consequences don't have to be immediate. Sometimes a delay puts everyone in a calmer mood. Stay organized, use Google Calendar and list every assignment for a given day, then post this calendar to the web for students and parents to review. Refer students/parents to your website when they request absent/late work.
What's the best thing about teaching?
Knowing that what I do is important. Being able to go to work and have fun with kids.