Teacher Behavior

Behavior in the Class Do’s and Dont’s of Teacher Behavior DO DON’T -Always speak professionally with correct grammar and few fillers -Arrive early to school -Include humor (not rude, racist, or making fun of others) -Be involved -Act like a teacher in and out of school -Communicate with parents on positive information -Don’t speak and act as if you are one of the students -Don’t talk about others and gossip -Don’t act crazy or wild in public places or bars -Don’t use negative criticism if possible

Behavior in the Class Communication - communicate professionally - use humor - use nonverbal forms of communication (eye contact, hand/facial gestures) -don’t talk about other people - feedback on homework and projects should be clear and concise. - do not talk like the kids because you are not one of the kids -communicate with parents (letters, , conferences, open hours blogs) -communicating with other staff members: do not gossip about others, talk professionally (refer to survival handbook)

Behavior in the Class Involvement -get involved with the community, volunteer Before Class Setup -arrive to school promptly and before the students Personal Beliefs -respect diversity and beliefs -be open to what you believe, but do not push your beliefs. Show that you honor everybody’s opinions.

Behavior in the Class Interaction with the Students -Create withitness within the class and demonstrate overlapping. -withitness: awareness of the whole group -overlapping: ability to attend to several matters - Your behaviors should be the same as the behaviors you expect from your students - model respect - correct and hand back graded papers quickly with feedback -model problem-solving skills along with clear, correct communication - Try to stay away from negative criticism

Behavior in the Class Parent/Teacher Conferences and Meetings -Multiple studies show that students do better academically when their parents are involved -In conferences, listen to the parent, get their opinion, collaborate -Be specific with the parents and show your appreciation -Do not compare the student to other students Try to avoid talking too much and answer questions briefly but clear What are some things you would like to hear from your child’s teacher during parent-teacher conferences? What is the most important information the teacher should address? Angry parents: -Be calm and positive while you allow the parent to talk, talking little is best -Do not be intimidated and do not be defensive

Behavior Out of the Class Public Presentation - act respectively and professional -act as if there are parents there, think before you act -consider that you live in the same area that your students and their families live in. Communication with Parents/Students If you encounter students or parents outside of school, what do you think the best way to react is? Do you have a conversation or just say hi?

Behavior Out of the Class Activity: Experiences Outside of School - One side of the room will be for if you believe the scenario is okay and the other side will be for if you think it is not okay -You may go in between, but be prepared to back up your reasoning Should teachers be punished for what they do outside of the classroom even if what they do is not illegal? Where do you draw the line?

Social Media

Types Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest

What You Display Your behavior outside of class -Your posts reveal everything you do in your free time and how you act. Both words and photos can be interpreted many different ways. Your morals -What you do shows people the expectations you have for yourself and others. Everything you post -Everything you post online is there for everyone to see.

Who’s Watching? Parents -Parents want a teacher that will teach and model appropriate behavior for their child and one wrong post can break that trust a parent has. Students -We need to be role models for students and display our professionalism everywhere we go. Administrators/Co-Workers -Administrators will search social media to find out what type of person you are. If you are on social media, this can be a great time to show how professional you are outside of the classroom.

Privacy Making your facebook account or other social media accounts private can be very helpful. It helps you keep your home life separate. Remember that those who can see your account can also save it and share it with others. Instructions for setting your facebook account to private can be found on the Wiki.

Things to Remember -Always monitor your privacy settings as they can change without notice. -Be aware of who you are ‘friends’ with. -Monitor your photos and posts! Others may add things or tag you in something you may not want to be part of. -Consider the message you are portraying when posting. -Consider using an altered name (middle name instead of last name). -Don’t friend students on your personal accounts! -Think before you post! If you wouldn’t show your students or if you are unsure, don’t post!

Social Media in the classroom? Some teachers may use social media in their class as a teaching tool or way of communicating with students in a professional manner. Ex: Setting up a facebook page for the class to keep track of assignments and due dates. -Communicate with parents so that they are aware and consider getting permission. -Make the rules for the account clear to students and parents. -You must monitor the account daily to make sure it remains professional. -Consider the district/school policy on social media, can you even make a class account? -You may need permission from the Principal, other administrators and/or the School Board.

Activity Let’s look at a teacher profile on facebook! Suzie Example In pairs, look at Mrs. Example’s facebook page and list everything you see that shows professionalism and everything you see that does not.

Professionialism In and Out of the Classroom

Appearance/Dress Code Males ● Dress Pants ● Polo Shirts ● Button-Down Shirts ● Tie/Jacket for special occasions Females ●Conservative Clothing ●Avoid Short Skirts & Revealing Tops *Most Schools do not allow facial piercings, tattoos, or brightly colored hair.

School Districts can have individual dress codes. Stevens Point School District mVzc19Db2RlLnBkZjo6Oi93d3c3L3NjaG9vbHMvd2kvc3RldmVuc3BvaW50L2 ltYWdlcy9kb2NtZ3IvMzMwMWZpbGUyNTQxMS5wZGY=&sectiondetailid= Wausau School District mages/Human%20Resources/ %20EMPLOYEE%20HANDBOOK%20rev% pdf

Student Input "When the teacher is really dressed up it means they are down to buisness and mean work!" "It doesn't matter what the teacher wears, its how they present themselves." "They are more approachable when they are not so dressed up."

Interaction with Students ● Don't allow desire to be liked by the students get in the way of enforcing classroom and school rules. ● Do not show favoritism or discriminate against students. ● Believe all students have the ability to learn and succeed.

Interaction with Colleagues ● Collaborate & share teaching strategies ● Analyze data & discuss issues with the curriculum ● Create a sense of community to create an environment that is focused on learning & success *Don't engage in gossip, arguments, & other inappropriate behavior

Social Media ● Be mindful of what you post! o use appropriate language o avoid party/drinking photos o remember confidentiality ● Adjust privacy settings to limit viewers ● Only friend/add people you know **REMEMBER! Future employers can see what you have on social media!

Professional Growth ● Stay up-to-date on best practices & teaching strategies ● Read books/magazines/blogs about education & leadership ● Conduct research to improve teaching methods & student performance ● Attend Conferences ● Join organizations within the field

What would you do? Scenarios

Mandatory Reporting ● Identifying children who may be in need of help ● Suspected child maltreatment o Child Abuse o Neglection of Children ● Do you know when you are and are not required to report something? ● Let's take a look! o