I often sit in my classroom and think of each student and their need. This one needs this, this one that, and then I try to imagine ways to structurally design lessons and classroom procedures that will enable all for success. I think of all the inspirational teacher movies and imagine how it will be. I want the students to cheer my name and chant how wonderful I am, WRONG!!!
I reflect again on those movies and remember first the teacher was hated and scorned before they loved them. Why is this? Why is it that when you show a child discipline, firmness and firmness, they get frustrated and angry and secretly love and respect you. How you ask do I know this? Well I have been in the classroom for 3 years as a teacher and 12 as a substitute before that. I have seen the "cool" teacher that lets them listen to music, and climb on desks and do a dance, the inconsistent teacher that says one time NO and another time YES and they are always doing things that make you believe they are serious right now and then not so much later and then again the teacher that has worked hard to pave the road of discipline, procedure and yet has the kind hand when necessary to show they care. Which would be imagined to be the most successful? If you guessed that the disciplinarian you got it. Now which one is the most well liked, if you guessed the "cool" one, WRONG!!! I have found that they do think that same teacher that provides discipline and structure is the cool well liked teacher.
After so many years I have discovered that
