Remaining Professional
What are some techniques you can use to keep yourself in a professional stand point and remain outside of friendship with the students.
I always assume that I am a role model. I pride myself on being a bit of a goody-goody. I joke that I have a G-rated classroom. But when students are trash-talking, I try to re-phrase what they are saying to make it sound more respectable.
I've had the same type of experience as Althea. I tend to want help those who don't fit it, but sometimes that is perceived by other students as me having a "favorite". I now avoid this by scheduling team building activities into the curriculum.
Provide examples of situations that occurred in a professional capacity in my career. Keep the topics away from personal situations that arose and keep students on task to avoid going off course.
I agree with Liane. Maintaining that line is tough. My class last term had one student who didn't join in with the others. He just didn't fit. But he and I were of the same spirit, so we could talk easily. I had to really watch myself so I maintained an encouraging attitude towards his studies, but didn't become buddy-buddy. I think I succeeded pretty well, but I was on guard the entire time.
I try to keep the non class-related discussions to a minimum. I have found out (the hard way) that if you engage in conversation that the students can relate to TOO much, they quickly change their view of you from an instructor to someone to whom they can relate. Not that you should be someone students cannot relate to, but the professional line has to be drawn and stayed behind at all times!
