What Teachers Say and Do Matters

Do you sometimes wonder if what you do and say as a teacher matters to your students? Do you often wonder if they are even listening to you at all? You’re not alone. Many teachers, at the end of the day, leave so exhausted that they don’t even know if they really made a difference that day or not. Well, I’m here to tell you that you do make a difference. And that what you say and do matters A LOT to your students and to their families.

What Teachers Say and Do Matters!

Some Examples for You

One year when I was a site principal, my assistant (secretary) popped her head into my office and said I had a call from someone who said she was a former student of mine; and did I want to talk to her. She told me her name and I said “Of course I want to talk to her.”

I got on the phone with Cynthia, a former students from my very first year of teaching over twenty years before. I remembered her right away. She was in my 3rd/4th combination class (why do they always assign the hardest classes to the new teachers?) my first year teaching. As a fourth grader she was a quiet leader of the class, a student who followed the rules and always got her work done. She was a second language learner so had to work extra hard on some assignments. And she was the sweetest young girl.

She told me that she was now a teacher, this was her second year. And that she’s now married with her own two-year-old daughter. She said that she became a teacher because of me. And that she was thinking of me recently and happened to find me. I was amazed that she had since I had moved from the L.A. area (where I had taught her all those years ago) to the north county and then later over to Arizona. But she had found me, nonetheless. That call made my day, made my week, heck, it made my month. IT IS SO NICE TO BE APPRECIATED! Isn’t it?

Remember the small things too; because what teachers do and say matters.

There are so many small ways that students show appreciation. Here are a few examples; when a young student picks a flower for you out on the playground or on their walk to school, when a child brings you an apple or treat, when an older student stops to ask you how you are doing, when you get a sweet note…I wish I had kept more of them….I probably got over 50 notes throughout my years as a teacher and principal.

TAKE THESE ALL IN, MY TEACHER FRIEND. These small gestures are what pull you through the rough days.

Remember to be careful with your words

Another thing to keep in mind is…your words matter. Try your best not to discourage students; never make fun of them, don’t belittle or bully them, don’t stoop to their level and start arguing with them. Just stay quiet. There is power to your silence. If you find yourself frustrated with a student, send him/her out of the room rather than hurt them with your words.

I read a story on social media where a woman was describing how her third grade teacher bullied her because she couldn’t read very well. She was telling this as a fifty-year-old woman. This incident had left a scar on her heart, all those years ago. Sometimes we forget the power of words. And how negative ones can leave wounds too, we just don’t see those wounds.

I want to take a minute to give you links to two other articles I’ve written that discuss how and why teachers matter:

Why Did You Become a Teacher? What’s Your Why?

Be A “Compass” for Your Students!

Another example of why what teachers say and do mattters

My ex-husband told me a story about his school years. He said that from third grade to sixth he struggled with math. Then in sixth grade he had a teacher who said that he showed promise in math and would he like to work after school to catch up. Just this kind comment had meant so much to my ex. He stayed after school a few days each week until he had caught up. From then on, he excelled in math…all because of this caring teacher.

AND HE NEVER FORGOT THIS TEACHER AND INCIDENT. Never underestimate the effects you can have on students; both positive and negative.

Never forget that what you say and do matters to students.

Until Next Time,