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Wanna be like the cool kids?
Why educators should aim to “fit in”.
2 minutes and 43 seconds
We’re all a little guilty of taking ourselves way too seriously — and when we do that, everyone ends up being a loser.
Today, we’re talking about balancing professionalism and personality. Why should you want to fit in with your students? How can we “be like the cool kids” and keep our classrooms in check at the same time? Let’s break it down. 🔽
Ditching the stuffy teacher stereotype
Research continues to show that students learn better when they can connect to their teachers. Their increased comprehension goes beyond the curriculum, too. When kids build a strong bond with their educators, their soft skills skyrocket, and they may even pick up on a lot of valuable, practical life lessons.
When we take on professionalism as our top personality trait, we end up relating to our students at the same level Charlie Brown’s teacher did. At the end of the day, all they end up hearing is wha wha wha.
Often, we start taking ourselves too seriously in hopes that we’ll take charge of our classrooms (or push our own careers ahead). In reality, when we do this, we end up completely missing the mark.
On the other hand, if we go overboard with letting loose, our classrooms can delve into chaos.
The solution lies in balance and boundaries. We’re not going to let you walk this tightrope alone, so here are three tips on striking that balance.
1. Get personal
To foster strong connections, our students need to know us on a personal level first. Shed some light on who you are outside of being an educator.
Take a few minutes to talk about the show you’re binge-watching. Rant and rave about the food you cooked over the weekend. Put on some of your favorite songs during brain breaks.
Take it a step further. You hear the way your students communicate with each other, so try on their communication style with them.
This is the first door you need to open when building trust, and the results will speak for themselves. Soon, you’ll start fielding questions about what your pets are up to, how your latest project is coming along, and if you’ve finally finished Bridgerton.
This leads to our next tip:
2. Set firm, reasonable boundaries
Talking about your vacation may be fun and exciting, but you probably don’t want to share the plans for your date night with the class.
Setting firm boundaries with your students is crucial for two reasons.
✏️ Expectations can be set early on, creating a strong foundation for trust and respect.
✏️ They learn when, why, and how to set boundaries in their own relationships.
Understanding what specific boundaries you need to set is crucial. Think about off-limits
conversations, expected classroom behaviors, and your own personal preferences.
Don’t want students behind your desk? Create a physical boundary and explain why you need your personal space.
The key is you can have firm boundaries without being a “stuffy teacher,” and that’s where tip #3 comes into play.
3. Be silly
Break out of your comfort zone! Get silly!
Have a dance break. Take part in all of the wacky dress-up days and casual Fridays.
Back to our boundaries — if you need to build that barrier between the students and your desk, it doesn’t have to look like the Great Wall. It can be built out of stuffed animals!
P.S. We want to hear from you! Respond to this email and let us know what topic you’d like to see us break down next. How can we help you make this the best school year yet?