<p>I’ve been asked to serve as a conference panelist during a session on teacher professionalism. I’ll be representing the perspective of parents. Participants are third and fourth year college students who aspire to be teachers. So, I’m seeking input from you on what it means to be a professional.</p>
<p>Be aware of, and honor confidentiality. That means no gossiping about students to other students or parents or teachers. </p>
<p>The amount of gossip told to me directly by teachers and principals, as well as discussions at parties or events where multiple teachers attended and betrayed confidences is amazing.</p>
<p>I think that the way teachers dress goes to their professionalism. I have always thought that I am a role model for my students and want to present myself as a professional, so I dress more like a business person would rather than the way I would dress to go out for the evening or to a picnic. </p>
<p>Teachers also need to be the adults in the room, which means that they need to maintain a separation between students and teachers. Although it is great to have a friendly classroom, it is important to not be too friendly. I do not friend my students on social sites. Sorry kids, you are not my friend. There has to be a line.</p>
<p>I am sure that others will disagree, but when I think of my teachers from high school, they behaved a professionals. Walking the halls in my high school, there was never a question as to who the teachers were. With today’s casualness, sometimes it is hard to tell who the teachers are.</p>
<p>I will say that once my kids moved to private schools, there was quite a difference in the way the teachers acted and dressed.</p>
<p>I agree with parent1986.</p>
<p>I think professionalism relates to how you deal with your colleagues. If you have an issue with a colleague, talk to them directly rather than complaining to someone else on the staff. Confidentiality concerning students is paramount. All teachers will find themselves liking some students and families better than others, but professionalism demands that we try and treat all students in a similar manner that puts their best interests first. When I go into your classroom, it should never be apparent which kids you like better than others. Keep your personal life out of the classroom for the most part. It is ok to have pictures of your family and pets around. It helps to humanize you, and an occassional pertinent story about your family or pet is fine, but personal sharing should be minimized when possible.</p>
<p>Talk slow. (Young female teachers can to be turbo talkers, which makes them difficult to comprehend.)</p>
<p>Help one student at a time when providing individual help.</p>
<p>When helping students individually, make whatever time you dedicate to that particular student the very best. Be patient, take your time, and explain the concept. If you only have a little bit of time, and do a great job with that little time, he/she will learn. If you rush through to cover a lot or get to the next student quickly, he/she won’t likely learn much and walk away frustrated.</p>
<p>(I’m primarily referring to math and hard science classes.)</p>
<p>In some respects, I think it depends on the age of your students. I’ve been surprised how unprofessional some of the HS teachers are, gossiping about students and office politics. I assume that they think these kids are old enough to be “in the know,” but I think it’s unprofessional. I’d rather my kids not be entertained by all your stories of youthful indiscretions, as well.</p>
<p>Have a clear style of presentation that students can understand; first quiet the classroom, then tell them what they will learn that day, then present that info very very clearly with visuals as well as talk. Make sure the students have a book or very carefully drawn up notes so they can learn the material they may have missed in class. Grade papers and tests in a timely fashion and go over them with students so they can learn from their mistakes. Allow questions. Answer carefully and without ever ever putting a student down. If a parent speaks to you do NOT ever tell the student in front of the class. Limit sarcasm as it can be perceived as teasing or bullying by some students. Seek out and accept guidance from excellent senior teachers.</p>
<p>I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a high school teacher accepting friendship invitations from graduated students on FB. As long as posts are appropriate, why shouldn’t young people and their admired and respected teachers be able to stay in touch this way?</p>
<p>Since you will be representing the parent side of the panel, I will focus on that.</p>
<p>It is important to welcome parents as partners in their child’s education and communicate frequently with parents in regard to what is happening in the classroom and what your expectations are for your students.</p>
<p>Keep boundaries in place between parents and yourself. I don’t facebook friend parents of my students. There needs to be some separation between work and home.</p>
<p>When you are having any kind of a personal issue or struggle or going through something in your personal life (such as a death in the family, etc.), don’t use it as an excuse for not doing your job. Take the time that you need, adjust your own expectations of yourself at work but don’t share too much info with parents. They will sympathize and commiserate but at the end of the day, they want you to teach their kids.</p>
<p>To all teachers: don’t be afraid to be different. </p>
<p>So many teachers use the same teaching devices, dress the same, use the textbook religiously, give the same multiple choice tests etc. My favorite teachers have managed to change things up by not dressing business casual to the point where it seems like an office; by using novel lesson plans and teaching styles; by using material that doesn’t come from one textbook, but rather multiple sources; by giving tests that make you think critically instead of bubbling in an answer.</p>
<p>Try not to talk to students as though you are their age, but also don’t talk down to them. Students greatly appreciate some respect in a building where everyone (by necessity, I suppose) is treated like the lowest common denominator. Make sure to treat everyone decently. Don’t be a stickler for rules simply for the sake of being a stickler for rules.</p>
<p>Don’t be afraid to let the class progress in a natural fashion; I’ve learned the most in classes that are allowed to go where the discussion leads them. That may be controversial in today’s teach to the test world.</p>
<p>To all math teachers: loosen up. 
If you want to spark a passion for the subject, don’t be afraid to have some fun. On a more serious note, try to teach why. So many teachers simply give a formula, and say “memorize this”. In order to instill an appreciation for math, I think there should be less busy work and more explanation of the underlying meaning of the subject.</p>
<p>I realize this isn’t the perspective you’re looking for, but I had a rant just waiting to escape. :)</p>
<p>Honesty is important in all situations.</p>
<p>I agree with the above posters. Sadly, I see a great difference between the professionalism of teachers at our HS and those “back in the day”. My advice is that if a young teacher wants to be considered as a professional, then they need to act like one. That means a) dress professionally (this one has fallen soooo far :(), b) act professionally (gossiping mentioned above), c) do not text during class, d) stay off of facebook during class.</p>
<p>Texting during class and facebooking! Definitely don’t do that! My D had a high school teacher who spent her classes showing the kids the wedding gowns she was considering. Those are the ones that give us all a bad name. I guess that is across the board in all professions, though. There will always be the ones that need to be watched at every turn. Jeesh. Some stuff should just be a no brainer.</p>
<p>Funny thread! :)</p>
<p>Did anyone watch Anderson Cooper’s talk show today where Danny De Vito was on his cell phone the entire time? Who can’t go a few minutes without tweeting?</p>
<p>New teachers who haven’t yet had children themselves are sometimes at a disadvantage when talking to parents. Young teachers that I worked with found parent-teacher conferences very anxious nights for them. What surprised them about parents: how emotional they are about their children, and how some condescend to new, young teachers. </p>
<p>Being professional here means being PREPARED with data about the child’s performance, so that when a parent inquires, they aren’t met with personality assessments such as, “I find her lazy.” Rather: “The class was assigned a weekly essay, but she only produced 4 in 7 weeks. I met on X date with your D. She knows we’re putting in place (this plan of action) so her work improves. I’m glad you came so that I can inform you. Can I count on you to back me up?”</p>
<p>Professionalism is representing the profession in the best way possible. Maintaining confidentiality because it’s the law and the right thing to do; establishing positive rapport with students, parents, colleagues and the community in which you teach; dressing conservatively so as not to provoke or offend; staying abreast of current practices and research in the field by attending classes, reading professional materials and attending conferences; doing your job to the absolute best of your ability and seeking and accepting critique and help with a positive attitude. Remembering that your first priority is to do that which is in the best interests of your students; lastly, always seeking to improve your skills and practices as a facilitator of learning (one must be mindful to reflect each day on how things went, what didn’t work, what did, and any changes needed.)</p>
<p>Act like a grown up. Don’t play favorites. Treat everyone with respect. Be prepared. Don’t gossip. Keep good records. Know your students.</p>
<p>^^^^
That pretty much sums it up!</p>
<p>do not try to make the students your friends and don’t treat them like friends. demand respect and respect them.</p>