Why teachers must smile more.

In my 2am caffeine fueled self-isolation, I was watching a video about how mathematitions always use chalk for their lectures...thrilling. There was one part where I was fully engaged and ready to go out and try this special brand of japenese chalk they were raving about, all because the man was genuinely smiling and proud while talking. Of course I saw the price and immediately came back into the real world, but it got me thinking about why I felt that way. It seems very cliche and you probably rolled your eyes at the idea of "keep smiling!", as we hear it far too many times from colleagues and friends lazily trying to be helpful. As a training teacher, most of the teachers I know will smile all the time!... except when they're actually teaching. Perhaps this is because teachers are grumpy and overworked? Maybe... but maybe smiling is just such a simple idea, we don't even consider it. Myself and other teachers I know have a habit of wanting to give the best lesson and feel like they have full control, not control over the children, just control over the success of their teaching. In this busy state, we often feel like we have to be didactic and are focussed so much on presenting, that we're not aware of our energy and how we are presenting OUR attitude of the content to the children.

My aim is not to sell you some hippie trickery that is not tangible, but is to help you step back and see that smiling, laughing and enjoyment aren't signs of immaturity or modesty, they are signs that you enjoy what you teach. Your pupils will pick up on your positive attitude, we most not underestimate simplicty no matter how complex our job is. If someone can enthuse me about chalk by smiling, you can enthuse your children about just about anything.