“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you NOT to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won’t feel unsure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. As we let our own Light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. –Nelson Mandela
- Communication with other teachers – As much as we can love our jobs and be passionate about them, at the end of the day we can all admit that sometimes it is very challenging working with teenagers. It is important to be able to share feelings with someone who understands the stresses and pressures that are associated with teaching. Tip number one is all about ensuring that you have a person in your life (preferably in the workplace), who you feel comfortable to talk to and share advice and experiences with. I also believe that by making sure that you are approachable and available to other persons within your job is just as essential and ensures a healthy mind set and helps you to maintain a positive approach to your work.
2. Connecting with students – Do you remember when you were a student and may have bumped into a teacher in the supermarket or at the movies? Do you remember how shocked and horrified you may have felt to see that a teacher actually had an active life outside of the schoolyard and how intrigued you were to know what they were doing and who the person was that they were with?
Keeping this feeling in mind, do you think that some of your students may be putting you into this category?
Tip number two is all about relating to your students in a ‘REAL’ way by showing them that you are a real person, with real problems, interests and fears and that you have also made mistakes in your own life. I am not suggesting that you sit down and tell students intimate details of your private life, but, it is all about making it real and showing that you are not ‘untouchable’ and ‘aloof’.
Students will respond better to you if they feel that they know and relate to you in some way. Telling relevant stories or memories may help to break down barriers. In turn, they may begin to see that you are not the enemy and eventually respect your decisions and fairness when it comes to discipline.