My first year of teaching was fraught with the usual pitfalls. It seemed my ultimate goal at the time was to make sure the kids liked me. I recall playing music (Prince's Musicology) on the first day of class to show them I was one of the cool ones. I was running back and forth to turn on the CD player, and I completely ignored the students as they entered class. Great way to start off the year.
Luckily, I had a wonderful mentor who helped me focus on the students, instead of myself, and gave me some crucial advice: grow a thick skin and ask the right questions. What she suggested had a simple and practical application: I now regularly survey my kids about my classes. Hearing what my students really think about my class is eye-opening. Here are the most important lessons I've learned from my students' responses.
- Be meaner. What my students meant was, stop trying to be a friend and provide structure instead. They wanted respectful, fair, and empathetic policies.
- Be cooler. This may seem to contradict the former, but what my students told me was that they wanted compassion, not judgment. Their lives were burdened with many unfortunate circumstances, and they needed the classroom to be an oasis in their chaotic lives.
- Teach us to learn. Students often complained that teachers would go off on tangents, telling stories and not getting to the point. Or on the other hand, sometimes teachers would tell students exactly what to do, what to think, and how to figure something out. Students asked me to give them the opportunity to make mistakes, muddle through difficult topics, and ask for help when they needed it.
- Wrap it up. We are all guilty of this one. The bell is about to ring and the students are frantically packing up their materials. We are shouting out last-minute instructions as they dart out the door. My students asked for closure. They wanted to have a moment to reflect on the day's lesson and create meaningful connections they could use later to further their understanding.
- Plant your corn early: Start building positive vibes from the first moment students walk in the door. Have something structured for them to do right away, such as filling out a personal survey. Greet students warmly at the door and don't worry about anything else except your goal of getting to know them.
- Proceed as usual: Come up with an opening routine and keep that time sacred. The trick here is to perform a routine, such as bell work or "do now" activities at the start of class, but vary the routine's structure and content so that students don't get bored. For example, one day students might reflect on an inspirational quote and another day they might do a brain teaser. Also, don't let anyone interrupt that time. No questions, no bathroom passes, no administrators popping in to bother you. All of that can wait the five minutes or so that it takes to establish this routine.
- Role with it: You must first exhibit the behaviors you want to see in your class, so be a role model. Students look to teachers to know what is and isn't acceptable in the classroom. When I'm coaching new teachers who are struggling with classroom procedures or behavior, I remind them that students do what we give them permission to do, even if we inadvertently allow it.
- Norm-alize it: I always use the term norms instead of rules. Students understand that "norm" and "normal" are related. In class, teachers can explain, "Norms are a way of doing things around here. It's what's normal and expected for us in this room, at this time." Also, make sure to involve students in creating the norms. A good way to do this is to start by asking what they need and what they can't tolerate in their learning environments. When students get to ask for what they need, it usually results in them determining norms for both students and the teacher.
Follow these tips and you can build a classroom culture of respect, rapport, and learning. When the classroom culture is positive, students are more apt to participate in all types of learning activities, such as partner work, class discussions, and problem solving. As a new teacher, you'll find that what students want and what you can provide is structure. Establish this, and you and your students will find the freedom to be your best selves.