Stuff I've Learned as a Teacher

In May, I will have completed my 20th year in the classroom.  As I reflect on the past two decades, I realize just how much I have learned since 1999.  Some are profound.  Others are goofy.  All have made me a better teacher.  I'm going to list as many as I can here, but I am sure there are some that won't come to mind just now.  They are in no particular order, but I grouped items that seemed to fit together.

- You can't let your day be ruled by the student's energy.  Decide your own in the car on the way to school.
- Credibility comes from taking your job seriously, not from taking yourself seriously.
- For all the planning we do, it's likely that what a kid will look back on as important will come from a random conversation that you won't even remember.

- Go to their games.  Even if you can only stay for five minutes, they'll know you were there.
- Go to plays, band, and chorus events.  You'll see a different side of your students.

- You will have to deal with tragedy in the lives of your students, no matter where you teach; so be prepared.
- Sometimes your students need you to be there to talk and listen.
- Sometimes, they need you to act like everything is normal, even if it isn't.

- Teachers look forward to snow days as much as kids too - maybe more.
- Spring break is more important for your sanity than you ever knew.
- It's more difficult to be out than it is to be at school.  Sub plans are hard.

- Compliment kids on something.  If it can be about their character, that's the gold standard.  If you can't, tell them you like their shoes.
- If a student shares an interest of yours, talk to them about it.  If you can work it into your curriculum, do it.  It makes them feel important.
- You don't have to pretend to be their age.  If you like the music they listen to, that's okay; but if you have never heard of it, there's no need to pretend you do.
- If a student is reading a book you like, tell them.  It encourages them to read for pleasure.

- Where you can, work some choice into your assignments.  I'm not talking about personalized curricula, but giving them small choices deepens their learning.
- Asking test questions like, "What's your favorite thing you learned in this chapter?" reveals learning more than any other question you can ask.  You'll get longer, more detailed answers to this question than one with a specific answer.
- When a student suggests a project idea, respond with "Tell me more about that."  You don't know what they have in mind from the initial proposal.  It may be better than it sounds, and you'll want to say yes.  They may have not thought it through, and you'll want to say no.  If you think it is doable, let them run with it and let them know you'll help them figure it out.

- Own your mistakes.  Apologize when appropriate.
- Own your decisions.  Stand your ground when appropriate.
- If you can explain the reasoning behind a decision, do.  It helps them understand, even if they still don't agree.

- When managing behavior, be the adult.
- They aren't more right if they cry.
- Remember that they are still figuring things out.  Your role is guiding them through that process.  Sometimes, that means punishment is needed, but sometimes it doesn't.
- If you get into a power struggle, you have to win it.  Avoid one if at all possible.

- Kids should see you laughing with other teachers.  They need to see that you enjoy your work and your colleagues.
- If kids see you cry in response to sad situations, that's okay; but they shouldn't go home worried about you, so be careful how much you share with them.
- If a student asks a question, and you don't know the answer, say so.  If you can Google it right away, do it.  If you can't give up class time at that moment, make a note to look it up at the end of the day.  If you are in a school where you can communicate with students by email or LMS, send them the answer that day.  It will amaze them that you cared enough to remember to look it up.

- Do not answer emails angry.  You can hit send in a few hours.  You cannot un-send.  Let someone else read it if you have lost objectivity.
- Don't grade tired.  It's not fair to the student who is next in the pile.  When they asked why you haven't graded your paper yet, explain that you respect their work enough to grade it responsibly.

- If a student asks you to write a recommendation letter, it's a sign that they believe you have a good relationship.  Accept it for the honor that it is.
- You are going to run into former students in restaurants.  If you don't remember them, fake it.  It makes their day if they think you remember them; it breaks their heart if they think you don't.

- Standards matter.  Hold them high.
- Grace matters.  Extend it when you can.