Comments on: You Better Smile Before Christmas! http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/you-better-smile-before-christmas/ Providing HOPE for educators since 2007 Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:59:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Keelynhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/you-better-smile-before-christmas/#comment-6904 Keelyn Tue, 01 Jun 2010 04:21:25 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/you-better-smile-before-christmas/#comment-6904 Thank you so so soooo much for this! I just graduated college this May and will start my first full-time teaching job this Fall (K-8 music). I have no problem having lessons and planning and getting myself together, but, I keep going back and forth with what I should do on my first day - pertaining to classroom management. I am such a happy, vibrant, sarcastic person, so, the whole not smiling thing is REALLY hard for me. But, your suggestions are just great! I definitely feel much better now! Thanks!!!!! :) Thank you so so soooo much for this! I just graduated college this May and will start my first full-time teaching job this Fall (K-8 music). I have no problem having lessons and planning and getting myself together, but, I keep going back and forth with what I should do on my first day – pertaining to classroom management. I am such a happy, vibrant, sarcastic person, so, the whole not smiling thing is REALLY hard for me. But, your suggestions are just great! I definitely feel much better now! Thanks!!!!! :)

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]]> By: Miss Cal.Q.L8http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/you-better-smile-before-christmas/#comment-5564 Miss Cal.Q.L8 Wed, 06 May 2009 01:13:21 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/you-better-smile-before-christmas/#comment-5564 Laughter makes learning more memorable. I love this. I also prefer interactive to overactive. Laughter makes learning more memorable.

I love this.

I also prefer interactive to overactive.

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]]> By: Joelhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/you-better-smile-before-christmas/#comment-3408 Joel Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:27:23 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/you-better-smile-before-christmas/#comment-3408 I like that. Smile until they get out of line. I think I have turned that into a second nature type thing. I like that. Smile until they get out of line. I think I have turned that into a second nature type thing.

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]]> By: Davidhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/you-better-smile-before-christmas/#comment-3224 David Sun, 04 Jan 2009 18:38:46 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/you-better-smile-before-christmas/#comment-3224 A teacher I worked with my first year advised, "smile until they get out of line, then cut them off at the knees". It's pretty similar to the sage advice dished out by Patrick Swayze in "Roadhouse". "Be nice until it's time to not be nice." It's worked pretty good so far. (15 years). A teacher I worked with my first year advised, “smile until they get out of line, then cut them off at the knees”. It’s pretty similar to the sage advice dished out by Patrick Swayze in “Roadhouse”. “Be nice until it’s time to not be nice.” It’s worked pretty good so far. (15 years).

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]]> By: Joelhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/you-better-smile-before-christmas/#comment-2138 Joel Fri, 23 May 2008 01:34:02 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/you-better-smile-before-christmas/#comment-2138 I agree that there are some risks with "being friends" with the kids. Some of our kids have gotten way too comfortable with us lately and they try to take over the office. We put up a sign on the office door yesterday that said: =========== WARNING Do not enter the office without permission. Knock on the door and wait. If you are not invited in, carry on with your life OUTSIDE of the office. ============= So far it has worked out well. :) I agree that there are some risks with “being friends” with the kids. Some of our kids have gotten way too comfortable with us lately and they try to take over the office. We put up a sign on the office door yesterday that said:

===========

WARNING

Do not enter the office without permission.

Knock on the door and wait.

If you are not invited in, carry on with your life OUTSIDE of the office.

=============
So far it has worked out well. :)

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]]> By: Mr. Maestrohttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/you-better-smile-before-christmas/#comment-1923 Mr. Maestro Sat, 05 Apr 2008 19:06:30 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/you-better-smile-before-christmas/#comment-1923 I've done a LOT of thinking about classroom management. Heck... who hasn't? I listened to everything they told me in teacher training, and after my first few years I threw most of it out in favor of philosophies of management that evolved out of reflection and... well honesty. What do they say?: "To thine own self be true" "Never smile before Christmas." I never believed this from the get-go. Like you, laughter and humor are too much a part of who I am. Like you, I used to be concerned with whether or not they liked me. To be honest, I supposed I still am... but what I came to realize is that more than that what I want is for them to BELIEVE me. And I think that, above all else, they have to know WHO I am before they believe anything I say. But see, I think it goes beyond laughing and joking around. My students have seen me cry... several times, in fact. It mostly comes on when I'm addressing the parents at a concert and I reflecting on a piece that means a lot to me... or when I'm telling them how great they're kids are and how much it fills me up on the inside to be able to work with them. I go all mushy. The running joke is that it isn't a concert unless I cry at some point. **Relationships with students and parents should be, above all else, professional. You are not there to be their friend, you are there to be their teacher.** My big issue with this statement is that a "professional" relationship exists between to entities who are untied in a common understanding about what their goals are. This is not the case in education. Joe Kid walks in your classroom, most likely with his own agenda. In the old days you could beat him into submission. These days you have to reach out to them and hope to God that they respond. I'm not talking about being friends, I suppose, as much as I am about being more like... a youth minister. I am not "in business" with my students. I am a part of their life. And a lot of times we're not teaching our subject matter as much as we are teaching life. "Professional" relationships fall short in that arena. The tough thing about the whole "being friends" is that it's difficult to bring on the fire-and-brimstone when you need to confront a kid about something they need to change. Like what they said in Harry potter: It's difficult to stand up to your enemies, but even more difficult to stand up to your friends. That's the price I pay for being me. I've made peace with that. I don't know... the other reason why I am what I am is probably selfish. I can't imagine waking up and spending my entire day being an office stiff. I need to laugh... I need to be myself around people. No walls. I’ve done a LOT of thinking about classroom management. Heck… who hasn’t? I listened to everything they told me in teacher training, and after my first few years I threw most of it out in favor of philosophies of management that evolved out of reflection and… well honesty. What do they say?: “To thine own self be true”

“Never smile before Christmas.” I never believed this from the get-go. Like you, laughter and humor are too much a part of who I am. Like you, I used to be concerned with whether or not they liked me. To be honest, I supposed I still am… but what I came to realize is that more than that what I want is for them to BELIEVE me. And I think that, above all else, they have to know WHO I am before they believe anything I say.

But see, I think it goes beyond laughing and joking around. My students have seen me cry… several times, in fact. It mostly comes on when I’m addressing the parents at a concert and I reflecting on a piece that means a lot to me… or when I’m telling them how great they’re kids are and how much it fills me up on the inside to be able to work with them. I go all mushy. The running joke is that it isn’t a concert unless I cry at some point.

**Relationships with students and parents should be, above all else, professional. You are not there to be their friend, you are there to be their teacher.**

My big issue with this statement is that a “professional” relationship exists between to entities who are untied in a common understanding about what their goals are. This is not the case in education. Joe Kid walks in your classroom, most likely with his own agenda. In the old days you could beat him into submission. These days you have to reach out to them and hope to God that they respond. I’m not talking about being friends, I suppose, as much as I am about being more like… a youth minister.

I am not “in business” with my students. I am a part of their life. And a lot of times we’re not teaching our subject matter as much as we are teaching life. “Professional” relationships fall short in that arena.

The tough thing about the whole “being friends” is that it’s difficult to bring on the fire-and-brimstone when you need to confront a kid about something they need to change. Like what they said in Harry potter: It’s difficult to stand up to your enemies, but even more difficult to stand up to your friends. That’s the price I pay for being me. I’ve made peace with that.

I don’t know… the other reason why I am what I am is probably selfish. I can’t imagine waking up and spending my entire day being an office stiff. I need to laugh… I need to be myself around people. No walls.

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]]> By: Ms. Mizehttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/you-better-smile-before-christmas/#comment-1084 Ms. Mize Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:56:32 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/you-better-smile-before-christmas/#comment-1084 Thank you, Joel. Thank you, Joel.

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]]> By: Joelhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/you-better-smile-before-christmas/#comment-1068 Joel Sun, 09 Dec 2007 21:16:16 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/you-better-smile-before-christmas/#comment-1068 Wow, lots of comments here. In fact, it has inspired a few other bloggers already. Two are listed in the trackbacks, but I also found <a href="http://randomthoughtsofateacher.blogspot.com/2007/12/things-i-have-learned-along-way-about.html">Things I Have Learned Along the Way About Classroom Management</a>. Ms. Mize does an excellent job writing about this topic and elaborating on her above comment. Her blog is new, so you can get in on the ground floor by going and reading it! Wow, lots of comments here. In fact, it has inspired a few other bloggers already. Two are listed in the trackbacks, but I also found Things I Have Learned Along the Way About Classroom Management. Ms. Mize does an excellent job writing about this topic and elaborating on her above comment.

Her blog is new, so you can get in on the ground floor by going and reading it!

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]]> By: Carol Richtsmeierhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/you-better-smile-before-christmas/#comment-1058 Carol Richtsmeier Sat, 08 Dec 2007 23:34:02 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/you-better-smile-before-christmas/#comment-1058 Good points here. I always tell first year teachers make sure you're first day of class is a good one because that's the best it will ever be. Everyone is so hopeful, expectations are high etc. The trick is to keep that bit of magic all year long. I run a pretty tight ship in my classroom because an out-of-control classroom is never, ever any fun. Having said that, I also inject a lot of humor into my classes. This, of course, is from someone who uses a rubber chicken as a pointer and occasionally dons a tiara.:-) Good points here. I always tell first year teachers make sure you’re first day of class is a good one because that’s the best it will ever be. Everyone is so hopeful, expectations are high etc. The trick is to keep that bit of magic all year long.

I run a pretty tight ship in my classroom because an out-of-control classroom is never, ever any fun. Having said that, I also inject a lot of humor into my classes. This, of course, is from someone who uses a rubber chicken as a pointer and occasionally dons a tiara.:-)

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]]> By: Ms. Mizehttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/you-better-smile-before-christmas/#comment-1054 Ms. Mize Sat, 08 Dec 2007 19:50:30 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/you-better-smile-before-christmas/#comment-1054 Ah, you have made me think about things that have really helped me be an effective classroom manager! I do have to say I would have a very difficult time not smiling. I tend to wear a smile as part of my outfit for the day unless I am in deep thought. I think smiling is reassuring and helpful. It helps puts students at ease. Of course, if a student and I are having a chat about bad choices then there is probably not a smile on my face either. I am going to blog about some things that have helped me. Ah, you have made me think about things that have really helped me be an effective classroom manager! I do have to say I would have a very difficult time not smiling. I tend to wear a smile as part of my outfit for the day unless I am in deep thought. I think smiling is reassuring and helpful. It helps puts students at ease. Of course, if a student and I are having a chat about bad choices then there is probably not a smile on my face either. I am going to blog about some things that have helped me.

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