Though we would like it if the world were always a positive, friendly place, sometimes it just isn’t so. We’ve heard our share of negative teacher room talk. Still, we try to do our part to stay positive and focus on how to handle challenges in a way that encourages positive change. Given that philosophy, here are ten things you won’t hear excellent teachers say:
These kids are all lazy and unmotivated.
Really? All of them? Show us a classroom where all of the students are unmotivated and we will show you a classroom that needs a reboot. Perhaps the lessons need to be more academically or developmentally appropriate. Maybe the work needs to be more active and engaging. Has the teacher built a good relationship with the students? If not, start there. Students are more likely to do good work for teachers they like and respect.
You’ll do what I say because I am the teacher and you are the student.
You might get students to comply with this statement, but compliance is not the same as learning. Compliance is at the low end of the motivation scale, with interest and engagement at the other end.
That’s not how we act. Were you raised in a barn?
You don’t know how they were raised. Making assumptions or belittling their background is not likely to teach them proper behavior.
When I want to control my class, I just give them a pop quiz.
There are two problems here- emphasizing control over learning and understanding the purposes of assessment.
Did you leave your brain at home today?
Teachers who say things like this think they are being sarcastic, but be aware that many, many students do not understand sarcasm and will just recognize this statement as an insult.
That is a stupid question.
If you want to make sure students never ask a question in your classroom, be sure to tell them that their questions are stupid.
Don’t smile until Christmas.
The sentiment behind this one is that you have to let students know who is in control and that you are not their friend. However, you can build a classroom environment where students will work and respect you and each other. You can be firm in your expectations while building a rapport with your students. We say, go ahead and smile on the first day.
She works so hard she makes the rest of us look bad.
The general public does enough teacher bashing. We don’t need to do it to ourselves. If you make this statement, you are really making a statement about how YOU work.
There are only 39 days left of school!
The problem with counting down the number of days of school is that the subtle message is “this place is so bad we can’t wait to get out of here!” In your glee, you are negating the fact that school is a positive, purposeful place for learning. While we all like our vacation, many students are safe, fed, and happy at school. Sometimes home and summer brings unknown and unsettling circumstances. If you are confronted with an end of the year countdown, consider saying things like “Only six more days until we can stay home and read all day long.”
How many years until I retire?
This is not a problem if you are actually planning your retirement. But if you are an early career teacher and you are starting to count the days and years until you retire, you might want to take a look at why you are so miserable in your job. Yes, teaching is hard work and we know that not every minute is enjoyable. The good should outweigh the bad. Good teachers generally like their work!
Here’s to positive teacher talk,
As a first-year teacher, I heard that “Don’t smile until Christmas” advice from more experienced teachers more times than I can remember. I never followed it because that’s just not me. I also remember asking a more experienced teacher how he handled a certain problem student. His answer? “I take him out on the back porch and cuss him out.” That wasn’t me, either. (I taught in a high school E.S.E.A. program.)
I finally decided I wasn’t cut out to teach in a classroom setting. I’d always wanted to be a librarian. As it turned out, I spent many years as a bookseller before retiring. I also taught my own children at home, and later my nephew when he lived with me. I’m just better with individuals, whether I’m selling books or ideas. I wish more of the teachers I’d had when I was in elementary school had decided they weren’t meant to be classroom teachers and left the profession.
Hi Barbara, it sounds like you understand yourself and made the best choice of the right career for you. I also heard that don’t smile advice. Thank goodness I did not follow it. I learned early on to consider someone’s advice and then accept or reject it depending on whether or not it made sense for me. I’ve always found that to be a pretty good way of doing things. Michele