How you present yourself to your students matters. The way you dress, speak, and move has an impact on how they view you and thus how they behave in your class.
Here at SCM, we’ve covered each of these areas in previous articles.
But one area we haven’t covered is the way you stand. What follows are five areas of the body that when positioned a certain way give you the leadership bearing students respect.
1. Feet
Less effective teachers tend to pace, tap, fidget, and hide one leg behind the other, which communicates fear and uncertainty that students pick up on.
To show strength, especially when speaking, it’s best to stand in one place with feet pointed straight ahead and shoulder-width apart.
This stance lets people know that you’re committed to your words and have confidence in yourself and what you’re saying. It reflects certainty over uncertainty.
2. Hips
Holding a swayed hip to one side is a common position. Many teachers shift from one side to the other most of the day. But doing so shows impatience.
It shows frustration, boredom, and annoyance and often accompanies crossed arms. To students it appears as though you don’t particularly like them, which weakens your influence.
The solution is to hold steady, right in the middle. No, you don’t have to be perfectly balanced all the time. But you’ll want to stay centered when addressing your students.
3. Hands
Teachers who struggle tend to hide their hands, either clasped in front like a fig leaf, behind them, or inside their pockets. But while the body should remain mostly still while speaking, the hands should not.
Showing your hands makes you more trustworthy. Moving them to emphasize your points demonstrates warmth and enthusiasm.
However, you must be careful not to force it. To make your hands move naturally, focus on your message and its importance and free your hands to move in coordination.
4. Shoulders
Stooped and rounded shoulders communicate defeat. They tell students that you’re just going through the motions and that they, not you, decide how they’ll behave and how well they’ll listen.
Students don’t want to follow a weak-kneed underachiever or someone who stands like one. They have to believe in you.
So throw your shoulders back and lift your chin to parallel the ground. This also has the effect of giving you more confidence. Researcher Amy Cuddy discovered that if you stand like a superhero for just two minutes, you perform better.
5. Eyes
Casting your eyes downward reveals mild embarrassment just being in front of students. You can be a quiet and shy person, but you must leave it behind the moment your students enter your classroom.
We talk a lot here at SCM about boldness and how important it is to effective classroom management. You must be fully committed to your rules, policies, and procedures or your students will know it.
They’ll see it on your face and in your averted glances. Instead, make it a point to hold a beat of eye contact with all your students throughout each day. The more you do it, the easier it gets and more influence you’ll have.
An Advantage
The way you stand isn’t a small thing.
Those who use it effectively have an advantage over those who don’t. Yes, it takes some practice and repetition until it becomes part of who you are.
But it’s simple and you’ll see improvement almost immediately.
Review the list above every morning before your day begins and then stand in a superhero pose for a couple of minutes right before your students arrive.
You’ll feel different, for sure, and carry yourself with more confidence. It’s the overall package, however, over time, that tell students that you’re a person worth following.
PS – I was recently a guest on the Rockstar Teacher Podcast. Click here to listen.
Also, if you haven’t done so already, please join us. It’s free! Click here and begin receiving classroom management articles like this one in your email box every week.
Thank you Michael for regularly visiting my inbox. I have been following you ever since I found your article online. Your thoughts on many things about teaching are really useful. I’ve been applying them in my class. Wish to have a copy of your book soon.
A while back, I read your recommendation about standing in one spot, and it made so much sense. I also check the spot to make sure that I can see and be seen by every student. (That includes sitting in every chair myself to avoid pretzel posture for students.) My mental mantra is that I own this – room, lesson, audience, and my posture mimics that. (On a random side note, I can produce a sharp, piercing whistle when needed, and it has silenced a cafeteria. Thank you, Dad! I own the room.)
A correction: The podcast is Teacher Rockstar, not Rockstar Teacher.
I think you need to model this, but call your students on it too. Kids slouched or chin on their desk are sending the wrong message. They are so tired, this is boring, I don’t want to be here.
Mrs. Knuppe
Agree but sometimes their bodies are hurting from sitting in a chair all day. My son has complained about his back hurting.
I love this. The physical presentation is just as important as the words we say.
I also think my students would benefit from this, too – especially if they could apply it to their upcomimg presentations.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
Sandy
p.s. I hate to nitpick, but “feat” should be “feet”.
Please keep doing what you are doing. You are an inspiration to me.
This is a great reminder, thanks! Like you said, when I remember to stand tall and confidently, it’s surprising how much taller and confident I feel.
I’ve found that yoga helps me a lot with feeling comfortable standing this way, as it’s very similar to the “mountain pose” that I always come back to after more of the other poses. This also helps ground me to being present in the moment and truly focused on my students, rather than the other concerns that can distract me throughout the day.
Thanks again!
Discovered you through the Teacher Rockstar Podcast. I look forward to reading more about Smart Classroom Management in preparation to starting a new semester in a new school. Time for a fresh start with a fresh plan.
Presently I have a practicum student. I told her early on she needed to develop a “command presence” by standing as tall as possible, shoulders back, looking students in the eye. She has yet to do this and it shows in how the students (3rd graders) respond to her.
Similarly, I consider it sub-optimal for elementary teachers to append “OK?” to their commands, as in “I’d like everyone to return to their seats now…OK?”
Michael,
With regard to male teachers:
I consider how they’re dressed to be an important aspect of their leadership.
I’m baffled at how common it is for male teachers to dress as if it’s a Saturday morning trip to Home Depot.
I wonder if it’s because of ease, comfort, or is it some sort of statement?
Again, my comment regards male teachers only. I have no opinion whatsoever about the clothing selection of female teachers.
As a neurodivergent early elementary educator with anxiety, I fidget with a ring and tend to pace or go back and forth from my laptop (which needs to stay plugged in) and the TV where I have slides that I teach with. I also have a hard time with eye contact, as do many of my ND students. I could definitely have better posture and will have to practice that. I also dress comfortably to get down at the kids level as much as possible. I appreciate these recommendations and want to get better at classroom management.
As an autistic teacher with ADD, I find it very difficult to stand still or maintain eye contact. First, I disclose to my class my different abilities so they know I need to move. I have spent 36 years working on eye contact. It helps to look over shoulders or get down to the students level.