No matter how many years of experience you have under your belt, there are certain things that teachers should never do. Not only are the things on this list pushing the ethical envelope, they could also be damaging to your career.
I’m sure Teaching readers could help make this list longer, but I’ve narrowed it to ten things I feel are important.
I’m sure Teaching readers could help make this list longer, but I’ve narrowed it to ten things I feel are important.
1. Don’t Try to Relive Your Student Days
You’re the teacher, not the student. Be grateful those days are past you and you’re now on the other side of the desk. Walking the school halls may bring back some fond memories, but don’t try to rewrite history. Dressing like a student or trying to be “too cool for school” isn’t your job. Don’t try to be too friendly or get too close with your students on a personal level. Stay professional and make sure the students know who’s in charge. As a teacher, you now have the chance to see the bigger picture. You hear the gossip, you see how cliques and bullying will impact students. Use your teaching position as an opportunity to create an environment that can help prevent the heartache and embarrassment you and your friends experienced in school.
You’re the teacher, not the student. Be grateful those days are past you and you’re now on the other side of the desk. Walking the school halls may bring back some fond memories, but don’t try to rewrite history. Dressing like a student or trying to be “too cool for school” isn’t your job. Don’t try to be too friendly or get too close with your students on a personal level. Stay professional and make sure the students know who’s in charge. As a teacher, you now have the chance to see the bigger picture. You hear the gossip, you see how cliques and bullying will impact students. Use your teaching position as an opportunity to create an environment that can help prevent the heartache and embarrassment you and your friends experienced in school.
2. Don’t Bad Mouth Another School Staff Member
No one is perfect, and neither are your coworkers. Cooperating with other teachers is challenging; working with difficult people is not something teacher training programs prepare you for. So what should you do when you need to vent at work? Write your thoughts in a journal, send an email to a close (non-work) friend, and just breathe. Complaining to another teacher about your principal or fellow teacher will not do you any good in the long run. The school rumor mill is faster and less accurate than a child’s telephone game. Your words will get twisted, and then next thing you know, you’re the talk of the school – and not in a good way. As my mother used to say, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all!”
So what should you do if you have a real problem with a staff member at school? Collect your thoughts and talk with the teacher directly. If you need to, ask another teacher or administrator to be present. Most likely, when everything is out on the table, you’ll be able to get past the issue and move forward.
No one is perfect, and neither are your coworkers. Cooperating with other teachers is challenging; working with difficult people is not something teacher training programs prepare you for. So what should you do when you need to vent at work? Write your thoughts in a journal, send an email to a close (non-work) friend, and just breathe. Complaining to another teacher about your principal or fellow teacher will not do you any good in the long run. The school rumor mill is faster and less accurate than a child’s telephone game. Your words will get twisted, and then next thing you know, you’re the talk of the school – and not in a good way. As my mother used to say, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all!”
So what should you do if you have a real problem with a staff member at school? Collect your thoughts and talk with the teacher directly. If you need to, ask another teacher or administrator to be present. Most likely, when everything is out on the table, you’ll be able to get past the issue and move forward.
3. Don’t Let Loose in a Community Locale
Life doesn’t have to stop just because you’ve become a teacher, but if you want to continue being a teacher, it will have to change. There are 4 D’s that could spell disaster for your career for you in your community: dating, drinking, dressing, discussing.
Dating : Be careful who you date. I’d steer clear of other teachers anddefinitely steer clear of student’s parents. Once you’re on a date (even with your spouse), make sure your actions are G rated.
Drinking : Teachers are of legal age to drink, but that doesn’t mean you need to yell it from the mountain tops – especially after too many. Moderation is key. If you feel uncomfortable having a drink in the same restaurant as your students, find a new hang out.
Dressing : If you can see through it, down it, or up it, don’t wear it. If it looks like something you wore to bed, change. If it looks like something you’d exercise in (and you’re not a PE teacher), change. If people can’t tell when you walk down the school hall if you’re a student or a teacher, you may need to rethink your choice of work attire. Let your job performance speak for itself; don’t let the outfit you wear to work jeopardize your career.
Discussing : As a teacher, you have privileged information about many students, teachers and parents in your community. Knowledge is a powerful tool, and what you have come to know as a teacher should only be used in professional settings. It isn’t appropriate to talk about a student’s grades or struggles with just anyone, nor should you discuss how a parent conference went with your friends. The less school gossip you generate, the less likely you’ll become a part of it.
Life doesn’t have to stop just because you’ve become a teacher, but if you want to continue being a teacher, it will have to change. There are 4 D’s that could spell disaster for your career for you in your community: dating, drinking, dressing, discussing.
Dating : Be careful who you date. I’d steer clear of other teachers anddefinitely steer clear of student’s parents. Once you’re on a date (even with your spouse), make sure your actions are G rated.
Drinking : Teachers are of legal age to drink, but that doesn’t mean you need to yell it from the mountain tops – especially after too many. Moderation is key. If you feel uncomfortable having a drink in the same restaurant as your students, find a new hang out.
Dressing : If you can see through it, down it, or up it, don’t wear it. If it looks like something you wore to bed, change. If it looks like something you’d exercise in (and you’re not a PE teacher), change. If people can’t tell when you walk down the school hall if you’re a student or a teacher, you may need to rethink your choice of work attire. Let your job performance speak for itself; don’t let the outfit you wear to work jeopardize your career.
Discussing : As a teacher, you have privileged information about many students, teachers and parents in your community. Knowledge is a powerful tool, and what you have come to know as a teacher should only be used in professional settings. It isn’t appropriate to talk about a student’s grades or struggles with just anyone, nor should you discuss how a parent conference went with your friends. The less school gossip you generate, the less likely you’ll become a part of it.
4. Don’t Search for a Job While at Work
I’ve heard too many stories of people who think they’ll never get caught searching for jobs..until they do. Finding a new job could mean a lot to your career, so don’t burn bridges at your current place of employment. You’ll need letters of recommendations, so make sure your school has no reason to suspect you of foul play. One more word of caution: if you are applying for new jobs and you haven’t told your current employer, tread lightly. The principal network is a powerful force that could make or break your chances in another local school.
I’ve heard too many stories of people who think they’ll never get caught searching for jobs..until they do. Finding a new job could mean a lot to your career, so don’t burn bridges at your current place of employment. You’ll need letters of recommendations, so make sure your school has no reason to suspect you of foul play. One more word of caution: if you are applying for new jobs and you haven’t told your current employer, tread lightly. The principal network is a powerful force that could make or break your chances in another local school.
5. Don’t Be Crass in Class, Especially at a the Expense of a Student
A teacher’s words are powerful, so use them wisely. Students take cues from teachers on how to dialogue and speak, so use language that is appropriate and not too “hip.” Cursing is an absolutely no-no, so make sure you practice taking the bad language out of your vocabulary before you get to school. You’d be surprised how many teachers have slipped up and said a word they definitely shouldn’t have in class. You may be even more surprised what students hear even though you know you’re saying something completely appropriate. Take it from one teacher’s lesson Sex in the Classroom.
One last word on being crass in class: don’t use sarcasm or humor at a student’s expense. Sarcasm is powerful language that can hurt more than it can help. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
A teacher’s words are powerful, so use them wisely. Students take cues from teachers on how to dialogue and speak, so use language that is appropriate and not too “hip.” Cursing is an absolutely no-no, so make sure you practice taking the bad language out of your vocabulary before you get to school. You’d be surprised how many teachers have slipped up and said a word they definitely shouldn’t have in class. You may be even more surprised what students hear even though you know you’re saying something completely appropriate. Take it from one teacher’s lesson Sex in the Classroom.
One last word on being crass in class: don’t use sarcasm or humor at a student’s expense. Sarcasm is powerful language that can hurt more than it can help. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
6. Don’t Post Questionable Items on Social Networking Sites
Even the NEA Teacher’s Union thinks social networking is a good idea. In fact, Teaching was recently listed by the NEAas a recommended social networking site for teachers. Yeah, social networking! But boo, those who don’t use it wisely. Here’s my rule and I’m sticking to it: if you wouldn’t post it on the board of your classroom, don’t post it on the internet. I’m talking about photos, status updates, and comments. Teachers losing their jobs over photos or “questionable” posting continues to make the news. Why? Some people are learning the lesson the hard way. Don’t be one of them.
Even the NEA Teacher’s Union thinks social networking is a good idea. In fact, Teaching was recently listed by the NEAas a recommended social networking site for teachers. Yeah, social networking! But boo, those who don’t use it wisely. Here’s my rule and I’m sticking to it: if you wouldn’t post it on the board of your classroom, don’t post it on the internet. I’m talking about photos, status updates, and comments. Teachers losing their jobs over photos or “questionable” posting continues to make the news. Why? Some people are learning the lesson the hard way. Don’t be one of them.
7. Don’t Claim to Have All the Answers
Teachers are not expected to be walking dictionaries or encyclopedias. When your students ask you a question that you really don’t know the answer to, fess up. Not only does it show that you aren’t perfect, you can also use the moment to teach them how to find the information themselves.
Teachers are not expected to be walking dictionaries or encyclopedias. When your students ask you a question that you really don’t know the answer to, fess up. Not only does it show that you aren’t perfect, you can also use the moment to teach them how to find the information themselves.
8. Don’t Fail to Follow-Through
The pressure of being a teacher can be heavy, but great teachers complete what they say they’ll do. Whether it’s heading up a project for the principal, calling a parent back, or staying after school to help tutor, it’s important that you follow though. Teachers have the opportunity to be trusted by the people they contact in the school setting. With that connecting comes the power to be someone who can be relied upon.
If you say you’re going to go watch Johnny’s soccer game after school, show up. He wouldn’t have asked you if it didn’t mean a lot to him. Following through helps create a safe network where you are a trusted and valuable teacher and employee.
The pressure of being a teacher can be heavy, but great teachers complete what they say they’ll do. Whether it’s heading up a project for the principal, calling a parent back, or staying after school to help tutor, it’s important that you follow though. Teachers have the opportunity to be trusted by the people they contact in the school setting. With that connecting comes the power to be someone who can be relied upon.
If you say you’re going to go watch Johnny’s soccer game after school, show up. He wouldn’t have asked you if it didn’t mean a lot to him. Following through helps create a safe network where you are a trusted and valuable teacher and employee.
9. Don’t Give Up
Teaching is challenging work. Giving up is the easy way out. No matter what time of the school year, your students deserve your best. Learn from your failures. Learn from your successes. Every student is worth the trouble. Every student has the potential to succeed. Every teacher has the knowledge to know the difference between working hard and hardly working. Every teacher has the power to create experiences that shape the future of a student positively.
So what do you do when you feel that you’ve done your best and it still isn’t working? Don’t except failure, but do ask for help. Do assess your obstacles in the classroom and find possible solutions. Teaching is here to help, too. Learn more about these challenging areas of teaching and don’t give up!
Teaching is challenging work. Giving up is the easy way out. No matter what time of the school year, your students deserve your best. Learn from your failures. Learn from your successes. Every student is worth the trouble. Every student has the potential to succeed. Every teacher has the knowledge to know the difference between working hard and hardly working. Every teacher has the power to create experiences that shape the future of a student positively.
So what do you do when you feel that you’ve done your best and it still isn’t working? Don’t except failure, but do ask for help. Do assess your obstacles in the classroom and find possible solutions. Teaching is here to help, too. Learn more about these challenging areas of teaching and don’t give up!
10. Don’t Stop Learning
Sitting around the dinner table as a child, I remember my parents asking me what I had learned at school that day. I never had trouble thinking of an answer. Still as an adult, I can think of countless things that each day teaches. Just as students look forward to learning new things about the world and the subject you teach, adults should have this same joy for learning.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve been teaching for 1 year or 25 years, there are countless new ideas for teaching, strategies for behavior, and ways of incorporating technology. You don’t have to learn something new about teaching or even the subject you teach, but you can learn how to knit, how to ride a motorcycle, or even how to play the piano. Keep your brain fresh and your mind young and engaged in learning.
Recognizing your own excitement for learning new things and how you learn will help you be a better teacher.
I’ll leave you with a quote I came across recently:
Get over the idea that only children should spend their time in study. Be a student so long as you still have something to learn, and this will mean all your life. – Henry L. Doherty
Help Us Create Our Own List! Contribute & Discuss in This Blogger : "What Teachers Should Never Do"
Sitting around the dinner table as a child, I remember my parents asking me what I had learned at school that day. I never had trouble thinking of an answer. Still as an adult, I can think of countless things that each day teaches. Just as students look forward to learning new things about the world and the subject you teach, adults should have this same joy for learning.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve been teaching for 1 year or 25 years, there are countless new ideas for teaching, strategies for behavior, and ways of incorporating technology. You don’t have to learn something new about teaching or even the subject you teach, but you can learn how to knit, how to ride a motorcycle, or even how to play the piano. Keep your brain fresh and your mind young and engaged in learning.
Recognizing your own excitement for learning new things and how you learn will help you be a better teacher.
I’ll leave you with a quote I came across recently:
Get over the idea that only children should spend their time in study. Be a student so long as you still have something to learn, and this will mean all your life. – Henry L. Doherty
Help Us Create Our Own List! Contribute & Discuss in This Blogger : "What Teachers Should Never Do"
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