Growing the Teacher Within

cont. 2. Anticipate Your Student's Expectations and Success will be for All
  Remember that all people want to succeed. Even our students are as nervous as we are, and they also want to succeed. All students will show their nervousness in a variety of ways. Most of them will be very quiet, so it might take some coaxing to get those kind of students out of their shells. Others will enter with a chip on their shoulders, as a protective defense they've learned to live with. These students lack comfort, while being nervous too. At this point, humor is the biggest tool you can have in your teaching arsenal until you get to really know them.
   The new school year is the perfect time to turn over a new leaf and start fresh - for everyone. Don't expect trouble from pre-labeled "trouble students." Come to your own conclusions through your own actions and responses with them. Give them the extra time to "think things through before you judge." Last year I had several of those "troubled students," and all I did was to show them some genuine care and support; and they would have moved mountains for me. Did they always cooperate, no. You could always tell when something was going on with them, and sure enough, it would come out by being in trouble at home, on the bus, or so on. Don't react, but count to 10 and respond with compassion. They need to learn the right way to do things, and to learn in a safe environment. Remember, these are probably the same students that have these learned survival skills because of a hard life, or they're ADHD - so try to make their school life as comfortable but still structured as you can, so that everyone succeeds. 
We teach children to be our future. Our goal should be that we want to make positive memories for our students every year to grow as successful and contributing adults to our communities. Let the love of reading and sharing a good book, the working with you through trail and error with problem solving in math, or even a fun competition in a game of wins and loses be what they remember about you. That's what will build life skills, and success for all.