You’re in the middle of a lesson and two students are talking and off task. Another student gets up and says she forgot her pencil. Then a different student says he forgot his homework.
How the teacher reacts to these distractions can set the tone for the lesson, the day, and affect relationships in the classroom.
Charles Swindoll said, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” This is true at work, with relationships outside of work, and every aspect of life.
Things are going to go wrong in life, but how we react to those ups and downs is what will determine our success and happiness. The water heater might go at home. It’s part of homeownership. How do we react when that happens? Your spouse or significant other might leave in the morning angry at something you said or did. How you react can have an enormous impact on the success of your relationship and your happiness.
Which brings us back to the original scenario. How do you react to the students who did not come to class prepared ? Maybe it’s worth privately checking in with the students to better understand why they’re not prepared. Maybe there is something happening at home. Maybe the students simply forgot. (I forget things every now and again.)
Small disruptions to the day can certainly be frustrating. They often frustrate me internally, but I try to remind me self that 90% of life is how we react. Taking the time to understand and teach a life lesson will probably have a greater impact than simply giving consequences.