One of our favorite topics is education. We love to talk to teachers about teaching, and often talk to people who are considering entering or have just entered our delightful profession. Jeff wrote down a few notes to prepare for his most recent meeting with a new teacher. Here are his tips.
1. Don't try to be cool.
The students won't really respect you. They will walk all over you, using the perceived "friendship" to get out of work and push you around to get their way.
2. Know your subject matter.
If you don't already have vast knowledge of your subject matter far above and beyond the level that you will be teaching your students, then do your homework and know your stuff. Winging it won't gain you much respect either.
3. Envision how you want your students to behave and then strive to achieve that.
One of the biggest mistakes teachers make is to try to talk louder than their students. STOP. STARE. Take off 10 points, give them a demerit, send them back to their regular classroom or the principal's office if the offense is repeated a second or third time. Decide what you expect and then expect it. With no apologies. Figure out what your penalties will be, (those are your leverage!) and then act accordingly. It does work. (Positive motivation will help to alleviate a lot of behavior problems as well.)
4. Set clear boundaries.
Our rule is to never, ever, touch any student for any reason. If you are a guy, never be in the room alone with a female student. Tell her she must bring a friend with her to your classroom if she needs to come see you for help outside of class. If you are a lady, vice-versa. Always leave the door open and stay on the opposite side of your desk. Avoid every appearance of evil.
5. Focus your attention on the dorky, weaker, not-so-confident students.
They are ones who need attention the most and will benefit from your efforts the most. Look for the special, handicapped, and/or underdog students and bless them.
6. Show interest in your students' interests.
Go to their sporting events if they play sports; go to their concerts if they sing in a youth choir. Look at their artwork. If they are younger, ask them about their puppies and bunnies or anything thing else that is important to them.
-Jeff