RE: The Top Ten Things New Teachers Should Know (Part Two)

Part One: http://cjs-educator.blogspot.com/2014/01/re-top-10-things-new-teachers-should.html

6. Smile, and do so frequently.
Firstly, I didn't know the expression "Don't smile until Christmas" was actually a thing. I wondered for awhile why anyone would want to live that way, but I understand now. It's all about that teacher power. Treat 'em mean, keep 'em keen. Spare the rod, spare the child.
However, I would like to think we've all outgrown that mentality, and are aware that children are valuable too, more so than the school curriculum, the latter being as crucial as it is. Kids are people, and people like to know that they are valued and their experiences in your class are valuable. Smiling and being courteous to them can accomplish both of those things simultaneously.
7. Respect your students.
As I mentioned above, kids are people too, and should be treated as such. You may have a certain authority over them, but they are not your inferiors. Once you acknowledge that, everything else is common sense. Smile, be kind, act like you care, etc.
8. Believe in your students even if they don’t believe in themselves.
I agree, but I would say it is mighty important that you believe in your students especially when they don't believe in themselves. Don't assume their parents or someone else will fly in and save them in the nick of time, and don't assume their problems aren't quite urgent enough yet, or that your position in the school ranks doesn't allow you to do what's needed to enhance their school experience.
9. Don’t isolate yourself.
This is new to me. Taking this into account, I will begin today, making connections with instructors at my college and with experienced teachers in schools across my city. This should give me an upper hand and a head-start when I do begin my teacher career. Thanks for the advice!
10. It is not appropriate to teach the way we were taught.
Well, that's fine, because I don't really remember my grade school days (I've probably got all those memories repressed somewhere). That is one thing that makes me nervous, considering how differently kids just a few years younger than me behave already. But, with the help of this article plus many others, as well as fellow teachers and my own personal progress journal, I should be able to adapt fine. Thanks again.

Original article: http://go.hrw.com/resources/go_sc/gen/HSTPR040.PDF