“Look, he’s even smiling,” said one of my students today after I had told the whole class how well they have been doing, how they’ve really turned things around since the beginning of the school year. This is the third year that I’ve worked with most of these students, so we have some familiarity with each other. They’ve seen me smile before.
I took a different approach to teaching this year. My objective going into this school year was to focus on building up SANA, doing enough at school to do good enough. To achieve this, I had to provide structure for myself more than the students. This doesn’t come naturally to me. Luckily, I think it’s worked out well for the students, too. It’s a significant shift in my approach to teaching.
To be able to meet my expectations at work, I need habit and routine. Things need to be predictable so that I’m not fumbling around for new ideas or trying to create projects that are bigger than I can manage. Earlier in the year, one of my students said that I’m all about the business.
Unexpectedly, I must’ve turned into a bit of a grouch. I’ve been labelled a curmudgeon before, and I’m quite comfortable with it. For the most part, I don’t like a lot of things or people. Surly might be too much. I have been harder on the students this year, more rigid with them. I like to call it setting and maintain expectations.
I don’t like, however, that my smile is something the students aren’t expecting to see. Students have a tremendous ability to identify what is different, and few are shy about point those things out. Sometimes, though, the kindest thing to do for someone isn’t also the nicest.
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