As a new teacher, you may feel conflicted about whether you should form relationships or friendships with students, or whether assuming the role of an authority figure should take precedent. The answer is that both matter. The combination of warmth and demand is positively related to student behavior and learning. Striking this balance is vital.
Building Relationships
- Get to know your students as individuals and build rapport.
- Have fun with students appropriately within the classroom.
- Share hilarious, harmless jokes to laugh with students.
- Build trust.
- Show that you truly care.
- Be pleasant and positive (avoid using intimidation to coerce students to behave).
- Communicate respect.
- Share appropriate personal stories.
Assuming Authority
- Establish a disciplined and structured learning environment.
- Mean what you say and follow what you say with actions.
- Use positive, but assertive, body language when giving directions.
- Be clear, consistent, and fair when implementing rules.
- Use the firm, calm “teacher voice.”
- Stand tall and pull your shoulders back to show confidence.
- Make eye contact with students.
- Demand that students demonstrate self-discipline, not just compliance.
Excerpted from Stronge, J. H., Straessle, J. M., & Xu, X. (2023). Smart from the start: 100 tools for teaching with confidence. ASCD.
