The teacher look

Yesterday after school I gave my host mom a brief report of how things were going. I told her that one of the challenges I've run into has been finding a way that works for me to show my authority and get order in a classroom. I'm not much of a disciplinarian, but I'm convinced that there's still a good way for me to be gentle and authoritative at the same time.

'You need a teacher look' she said. I knew exactly what she meant as I thought of the glares and stares my various teachers had given unruly classes throughout my school experience.
As my host mom sat down to watch our favorite 'soaps,' she suddenly said, 'There! That's what you need to look like!' She pointed to the tv screen where an angry brunette pointed an accusing finger at some poor man, -(who had driven her to alcoholism by flirting around with a woman who was helping him to plan their wedding getaway behind her back...but that's not the point...).

So this week i'm trying to find what 'teacher look' is right for me. I can't quite master the angry eye-browed glare of the soap-star, but i've found that a subtle moment of arm-crossed silence at least makes my students look up to see what all the silence is about.

I'm not convinced there's any need to get too grumpy. Perhaps i'm a naive youngster in this teacher-world, but i'll stay that way as long as I can. :)