When to be their best friend

Most people decide to go into teaching for the main reason that they love kids. They may also hope to help children grow and explore, but in the end they just love kids. It is so exciting to step into the classroom everyday and hear stories about the children’s new shoes and their trip to Wal-mart. Young children are so excited about the world and I love listening to their stories and getting to know them. Through talking with children you gain a love for them, but sometimes you have to put that love on the side and become that harsh teacher.

It can be hard saying no to a cute face that seems so innocent. For example, one day a student was acting out during shared journal. I told him I wanted him to make the his own choices, but if he couldn’t make the right one then I would have to make it for him and that would be sending him to his seat. He immediately stopped talking, but less then five minutes later he was talking again. I told him to come sit next to me and he looked very upset and promised he wouldn’t do it again. I wanted him to stay with the group, but he just couldn’t do it. He angrily got up and moved to his seat. Even though he was upset with me, a few minutes later he was telling me a story about his dog. He was upset at the time and it was hard to see him like this, but in the end it was very beneficial.

           

You want everyone to like you and you want all your students to say how great of a teacher you are. Even though you want to be this “cool” teacher, sometimes you have to learn how to be firm. It may seem like your students will be upset with you, but in the end they know you will always love them. If you do not follow through with rules, your students will not respect you and will walk all over you. You want to be friends with all your students, but sometimes you have to be firm and follow through with the consequences to gain respect in your classroom.