Students Respecting Teachers. Here's How Teachers Can Earn It!!
Respecting teachers - some teachers believe that it's a given.
To me, that's the wrong expectation. You can't demand respect. It has to be earned and deserved!!
R-E-S-P-E-C-T. It works both ways - students and teachers!
It's important to realize that this process starts from the first day of school to the last - it's an on-going process.
Students need to see and believe that you the teacher are a fair and just person. And that you can be trusted. But, always remember, that students are NOT Your FRIEND, they are your students!
The
classroom rules
and classroom routines that you establish at the beginning of the year are extremely important as it sets the tone of your class and that's where the the process of respecting teachers begins.
That's why, before I showed my students my class rules, we had a full discussion on rules they have at home and why it's necessary to have rules. They also shared their suggestions of what rules would be fair for our classroom.
Believe it or not, the
classroom rules
that I would be implementing and the students' suggestions were quite similar.
Your attitude is also another important factor in establishing respect for the teacher. I'm a very positive and upbeat person, who doesn't feel superior towards the students. At times, I feel like a kid myself and I come down to their level (figuratively speaking).
I feel it's also essential for students to know you on a personal level too. They knew things about my kids, my dog, my husband's obsession with his hockey team. (Again, NOT as a friend).
Every year I hold a teaching workshop for student teachers at York University in Toronto. Watch this short video that I recorded during this session, as we discuss dealing with disrespectful students.
Respect is such an essential and vital key in creating a wonderful relationship with your students. It's hard work, but when there is mutual respect, it's phenomenal!
