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Teachers.

They can be inspiring, lovable, unbearable, funny, annoying, smart, boring, and sometimes plain stupid. But they are all unique.

The past couple of years, I have had amazing teachers. One of them raised global awareness for me (even though 90% of the class disregards it), one of them has helped me choose my major in college and another teacher inspired me to be the best I can be.

Seeing that it is my last year of high school, I will always treasure the memories they’ve made for us, the lessons (either academic or not) they’ve taught us, and all the hard work they have gone through to make sure we are well-educated.

Teachers, for the love of sanity!, if you are having presenters come in to teach… or you are going somewhere for a field trip where others are teaching your students….

DON’Ts

• forget that they are still YOUR students and you still have to manage their behavior
• become more a distraction than your students (put that mobile AWAY!)
• use it as free time/day
• walk out of the room
• forget to tell the field trip location or presenter you have a student with mobility, visual or hearing disabilities. We can handle them and make accommodations IF WE KNOW ABOUT THEM.
• bust into the presentation to do classroom or behavior management unless absolutely necessary: try subtly or get the presenter’s attention first. Yes, I know I already said you still have the primary duty of managing your students behavior.. but take your cues from the presenter. Kids out in nature don’t need to use indoor voices. Kids who are horrid in the classroom can become stars outdoors with hands-on lessons.
• be afraid to get pre-lesson/pre-trip advice from the field trip location or the presenter. And if the field trip location gives you rules and helpful hints: READ THEM and send them home to parents BEFORE the trip. Because when we say close-toed shoes only, we really do mean it.
• be vague: give the presenter details of what you are looking for, how many kids, realistic time, etc.
• pigeon-hole bad kids, especially when on a trip. Honestly, a lot of studies show how “bad” kids with behavior issues do a 180 when put to work with hands-on activities. Same goes for when they are outside.

DOs

1. Pay attention to the presenter: students will notice if you aren’t and take their cues from you (and chaperones on a trip)
2. monitor chaperones … maybe have guidelines for them (mobiles on vibrate, if you MUST take the call, walk away from the group, don’t be rude, etc.)
3. Pay attention to your kids.
4. As hard as it is (trust me, I know how hard it is!), give the presenter control over the presentation, lesson, trip. Speak up to be helpful, answer questions when the presenter asks, but let the presenter lead.
5. be prepared and listen to field trip location people when they give pre-trip directions.
6. ENJOY THE TRIP/GUEST!
7. if it’s an in-class presentation, do paperwork, but use that eye in the back of your head and extra sensitive hearing to pay attention to your class to see if the presenter is keeping decent control over YOUR students.
8. look the presenter in the eye every now and again to make sure they aren’t trying to get your attention.

Seriously, my interns all know that I will never have issues if they walk out of a class because they cannot control the students and the instructors aren’t doing anything to help. My advice to my interns is that you give the kids two shots, then the instructor one shot, and if they are absolutely horrid, you can tell them all that you will not teach until you have their respect. And if they still don’t get it, the interns can gather the materials and leave.

Just things noticed by someone who makes a living going into classes or providing field trips. :-)