That
said, trust is not a given. It has to be earned. Teachers, in the case of the
classroom are responsible for building trust.
Keep it real
The
kids are not looking for Glenda the Good Witch to teach them, so keep it real.
Sure, mix it up, and add a few new slogans to your repertoire of words of
encouragement. But be you. The kids will feel more comfortable, and so will
you. Kids can smell phony.
Be honest
If
you make a mistake and the kids know it, admit it. When we are honest and model
a little humility for students, the trust grows exponentially. An occasional
"I'd like to apologize to the class" goes a long, long way. If you
are open to admitting to a mistake, the students will also be much more open to
doing so.
Be reliable
Be fair
Fair
means all students getting the same rules, and exceptions to those rules. If
you move the line for one student, and not another, kids will talk and they
find out. Unfair teachers are the most despised and the least trusted.
Don't confuse the two
The
thought if they liked me, they'd respect and trust me. Surprisingly, trust and
liking someone don't really have much to do with each other. According to
Tschannen-Moran, "It is possible to like someone you do not trust and
trust someone you do not especially like."
Remain competent
Whenever
you are able, go to professional developments to learn new strategies and
technology to assist you in teaching all students, the gifted and the struggling.
Also, stay sharp with the content you teach. That may mean reading the Twilight
series if you are a middle school English teacher, or practicing simulated
experiments on the computer at home if you teach science.
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