Notes to a New Teacher: Establishing Tone and Presence

My Dear, 

You are the actress and your classroom is a stage. 

1. When you begin the class, establish your presence by going to the front of the room. One time, my mother talked to me about how a lady enters a room. It's quite dramatic. You enter the room, standing with confidence. Pause. Your eyes scan the room and you smile or make contact with others, your expression morphing to reflect understanding and connection to those you recognize or would like to know better. Select a place in the room and walk purposefully to that location. 
2. Call the class to order with a greeting and a smile. This sets a friendly, but authoritative tone.
3. Then, give the beginning charge for the day – even if it is written on the board. Stand there and scan the room to see that everyone complies. Then go take attendance.
4. As you sweep the class to monitor each group, note that if you hear or see the same misconception more than two times, you are wasting your time to reteach the same concept to each group. Call the whole class together and reteach.
5. After each trip around the room, pause and eavesdrop over the whole class. This is a quick formative assessment for you about what you need to address behaviorally or instructionally. Capture the whole class attention if there is a trend you are noticing that needs refinement. Catch and Release: Catch them quickly, make your comment, and then release them back to their collaborative work.
6. When you are working with a group, remember that you are always on stage. As such, point your body to the whole class (don’t turn your back) and point your head to the group or individual. 

With Love, 

Your Advocate