How To Be a Teacher

This is a wonderful poem for teachers that one of the most amazing teachers I have ever known copied and distributed for our department the first year I began teaching. She retired soon after, but I think of her often. As the years have flown by, I read and reread this poem and find things to smile and nod at each time. The author is unknown and has been labeled as 'anonymous,' but if anybody happens to know who the author is, please let me know so I can attribute it correctly! This is one to keep! Please note that I have typed it exactly the way it was given to me.

HOW TO BE A TEACHER

Now...before you say anything, always say, "now"

Now...after you say anything, always say, "OK?"...OK?

Now...Wear dumb shoes

Spray the front row

Drive a car with four doors, and rust

Have a big bottom

Have droopy drawers

Wear fashions from 15 years ago

If you forget what those fashions look like

Go to the library and get 15 year old magazines

Look at what the people are wearing

Wear that

This is a good way to choose hairstyles too

If you need one

Now...Make dumb jokes, laugh at them, heh heh

If your students don't laugh, repeat the joke

Because they probably didn't get it the first time...OK?

Now...Make dumb jokes, laugh at them, heh heh

If your students don't laugh, repeat the joke

Because they probably didn't get it the first time...OK?

Remember that there are 3 things you can say

Whenever a student does anything...

1. "That's really good."
2. "That was a good try."
3. "That's . . . . . . interesting."

Learn one answer,

"I don't know. . . . .

What do you think?"

Lie awake in bed all Sunday night

Become the George Ballanchine of the classroom

Put dance steps on the floor

Draw them on the blackboard

Paste them to the ceiling

Hang them from the stars

Help each student find the step

That is just past their reach

Then get out of the way

Let them take the step

Watch them make the dance their own

Wait till they look up

Wait till they smile before you say,

"That's really good."

Remember what it was like

Before you were such a fancy dancer

As you are now

Show more than tell

Do more than show

Watch more than do

Listen, always, listen

Remember what it was like for you

Love your students

As you would have wanted someone

To love yourself . . . . . . . . . . OK?

Anonymous