TheApple

1. Don’t say: ”This is easy.” Of course there are exceptions to

this, but I think it’s best to minimize this phrase

2. Never say: ”I’m only teaching this because it’s on the

syllabus”

3. Never act like you are not enjoying what you are doing (if you

have to, fake it)

4. Don’t yawn!

5. Don’t roll your eyes

6. Don’t look at your watch. If you look at your watch, then

your students will, too

7. It’s probably best not to swear either... I am so guilty of this!

8. It’s OK to emphasize the material that the students should

know for exams, but don’t lead them into thinking that doing

well on the exam is the point

 Hmmm, what is the point?

Bonus:

-Erase the board completely

-Always erase the board up and down

-Never erase the board side to side

-Otherwise, your butt will wiggle

 Just a nitpicking observation - the title of this thread is "Few Things a Teacher Shouldn't Do" whereas I believe it probably should be. "A Few Things a Teacher Shouldn't Do."

The adjective/pronoun (in this case, an adjective) "few" is negative, having the meaning of "almost no/none":

EG. He has few friends; almost no one likes him

while the adjective/pronoun "a few" is positive, having the meaning of "some":

He has a few friends who think he is great.

Regards,

John

While I agree with most of your points, I have to disagree with the eye rolling statement.  Depending on the age of the students you teach and the relationship you've developed with them, a well-placed roll of the eyes can be better at correcting misbehavior than just about anything else.  It works wonders with some of my 10th graders.

eCubed says ...

I posted this in the article "13 Things A Teacher Shouldn't Say". I think it fits here, too.

A few that I think are inappropriate to say:

1. To Student: "You are wrong."

2. Supervising teacher to student teacher: "There are just students who are better off digging ditches than being here."

3. Teacher to colleague: "You suck but not as bad as you think."

4. Teacher to colleague's student: "Why are you even in his class if you can't even (perform a task from a prerequisite course)?"

5. Teacher to student: "Your parents are wrong." (even if true, don't say this.)

6. Teacher to student: "(A student's classmate) is really annoying."

7. Teacher to student: "I can't believe that (a colleague) taught you that way. That's so wrong!"

8. Teacher to students: "I'm really not trained to teach this subject."

9. Teacher to students: "(A person known to your students) is so hot!"

10. Supervisor to teacher: "(A colleague) failed the state certification test for (endorsement)."

Honestly, I was a witness of those wherever/whenever I was as either a student, student teacher, teacher, or someone whom a parent complained to about a teacher.

---------- What about  inappropriate to do? DO NOT:

1. Pull a white slip (office referral) out of the desk drawer once a student misbehaves and put it back in if the student calms down. (They will think that it will become a joke if you keep on doing it.)

2. Share negative opinions on anybody. (Caution: It is very tempting to do so if your students tell you how bad a colleague is and you agree.)

3. Make your class come across as entertainment.

4. Befriend your students on your personal FaceBook or MySpace. (You can create a separate account for educational and administrative purposes and invite your students to be your "friend" there.)

5. Wait until late #2 to address it.

6. Complain to your students about how bad you think the district and/or town is that you teach in.

7. Allow a student to do what any other colleague would not allow him or her to do (unless it is your content's nature).

8. Share with them personal issues. (If you choose to tell them personal issues, they have better been resolved, you don't mind sharing it with them, and you have the intent to teach them something from your experience. It's still safest not to share.)

I'm glad that someone out there makes list like this for poor unfortunate fools, but I think a teacher with even a smidgen of common sense would know that's some thoughts are best left unspoken.