Okay, I thought it would be fun to share funny stories of times we've used the "teacher" look outside of the classroom because I had a really funny thing happen yesterday.... I was in target and dashed over to the school supply section because I'd realized that in all my shopping I didn't buy a single red or green or purple pen (I don't always like to grade in red). When I was there, a mom and her high school age son were shopping for school supplies, and they were discussing what they should get. I turned around and said that I was sorry, but I couldn't help overhearing, and that as a secondary teacher, I would hold off on buying anything but the very basics, as secondary teachers can be very specific about what they require. We had a several minute conversation after that and she asked what I taught and I told her math and she sighed and looked at her son and lamented that he could be good at math if he wasn't so darn lazy.... Well, I looked at the kid and gave him the "look" and said that he really should try harder, and the kid stood straigter and said, oh, yes, ma'am, I will try harder this year. His mother just laughed and asked where she could buy that "look"...she said even she would have done anything I asked if I'd given it to her....there are times I LOVE being a teacher.
I have done it to misbehaving children in stores and restaurants. I hate when children whine. When I was waitressing last year one started in and I gave him a lot and he stopped immediately. The mom couldn't figure it out. ha
I was in the grocery store yesterday and there were 3 kids, probably between 7 and 10, running around the store. Wherever I went they were darting here and there. One was trying to run around my cart so I blocked him, gave him "the look" and then he started to walk very slowly to the next aisle. I don't know how people can let their kids go haywire in a store like that. If the "look" hadn't worked I was going to go find the manager!
How awesome MMSWM that is an encourgaing story.. I have had that look a few times in parent conferences and the students would promise the world. The parents were astounded to say that least. I think it is wonderful when we as teachers can make a difference even if it is with a look...
I second that, Michelle! Let's see, I use The "teacher" look outside of the classroom a lot. I even use it on my 2 year old daughter. Of course, she runs away when I give the "look" to her. But, it stops whatever she is doing! My daughter has even picked up on the "look". The other day at dinner I asked her to have 2 more pieces of chicken. She just stopped and stared at me & about a few minutes later yelled "NO MAMA!" That lil stinker! It is one of the most powerful techniques in the classroom and out to control rude behavior. I even use it on my ex-husband It can also help a child control their outbursts in class. I remember, this past year I was going around to see if everyone completed the warm up....and Tommy did not even begin his warm up. I simply put an X on his paper. He then look at me and began to kick, push his paper away and was about to crumble it. SO, I just simply stared at him for a minute. He began to write I also, feel like I always get an "I'm sorry" after. Whether it is from a complete stranger!!! A young girl went to throw a book at another girl. I stopped and stared... she replied to it with "WHAT?" "OH I'M SORRY." It works like a charm :up:
OK, this was at school but it is a very funny teacher look story: One day we were walking to lunch and one of my students started talking in the hall (asking another student to sit by him at lunch). I stopped and gave him the teacher look. He said "Mrs. ---- it scares me when you look at me that way!". All I could do was laugh and ask him to stop talking.
Tasha, don't you love to hear that! LOL I've also had one kid say "That is why I want to be a teacher!" This was after I just stood in front of the room and the class became silent
It's amazing how teachers can quiet 150 screaming kids with just a look. I swear it's our most potent weapon
OMG, I love the teacher look. I find myself giving it to my boyfriend. :lol: My students last year would say. "All Miss cMcD has to do is look at you, and you know what she's thinking!" I would give the look to my most unruly student all the time. The longer I did it the more uncomfortable he got. Putting his head down and peaking up to look if I was still giving him the look. Priceless!
I've used "the look" in the mall when kids are acting up and it always straightens them out. I've also given the look to other teachers' kids because their "look" doesn't work at home. :lol: I even found myself giving the dogs "the look" and it worked :woot:
I have used it MANY MANY times at work (second job during subbing) ... I had it before I was a teacher, though. Works like a charm, even with adults.
I give the look to both my kids & my hubby. My son, 12yrs old, says the look scares him. it works wonders!
It doesn't work with my kids, only the dogs! Funny how you seem to bring it out without thinking about it!
My students refer to it as "the evil eye" and I acquired mine my first week of teaching. Not only do I use the look outside of the classroom, I have also caught myself (on many occasions) snapping my fingers at other people's children in public if the kids are acting up. My sweetie says it's embarrassing to go to any public place that may have children because I almost always say something to a kid I don't know -- but then I give HIM the look and he shuts his mouth.
Today I used the look at Logans Road house a little girl just got up and was not listing to her mother when she got by my table I gave her the look and add the pursed lips she turned and went back to mommy, a wink and a thank you nod from mom was great. As mom left she said "you are a teacher aren't you? I know the 'teacher look'" My Son who is (24) now says "don't use the teacher look on me it don't work any more" It almost doesn't work with the granddaughter when I give her the look she stops but she then comes over to me and does what she can to "remove" the look :lol:
You will find it very fast! You will know you have it when you give the look and the student who was in off task behavior straightens up very quickly.
Last summer I used my teacher look & voice to get a couple of 11 yr. old vandals to sit down & wait for the police to come.
I use "the look" on my boyfriend's 3 year old nephew. It kind-of doesn't work, though, because then he just lays down and starts crying. It could either mean the child is spoiled and never gets any kind of stern look from mommy or daddy or my "teacher look" is too mean for toddlers!!!
I just used mine a few weeks ago. Of course it was on a former student, but he knew not to mess with me!! He was climbing on the poles at a restaurant play place. Of course you weren't supposed to be doing that. His mom and grandma were sitting right there. I was in the other room but looking through those windows (I was seated that way). All I had to do was give the look and point down. He knew exactly what I meant. When he tried to do it again, I again did the same thing and he got down and stayed down. The look still works on former kids and even on those you don't know! I am very careful when I use it, since I don't know when these kids will be showing up in my classroom!!!
My parents own rental houses and I frequently find myself with the responsibility of collecting rent, checking tenants out, going over to inspect things that might be broken, ect. One time, about a year and a half ago, I went over to a house where the tenants had extrememly rowdy 2 year old twins (identical boys). The boys thought that a distracted mommy was a prime time to get into all sorts of trouble, and I caught them climbing onto the kitchen counters and shot them the "look" out of the corner of my eye. Now, keep in mind that this was before I was teaching secondary...I had only taught community college at that point. Both boys looked at me, faces drooped with guilt, got off the counters, walked over to their playroom and played nicely for the next 30 minutes. Occasionally, one would look up at me to see if I was still paying attention and I would just smile at them and they went back to playing. Their mother asked how I did that...and would I mind coming over every day...lol.
I, apparently, have 2 looks! One is just the old fashioned "stare down", but the other has become more of my go to look....it's a combination of "the look", with the head tilted slightly, mouth held quizically, (as are the eyebrows), while saying "hmmmmm?" (as if questioning one's decision). I teach 2nd grade, but work with a group of HS students as an OM coach, and they came to know, love, and fear the "quizzical look"...rofl! One boy, a senior, even sent me a text message, and my response was simply "hmmmmmm". His reply? "not quite as effective as in person, but still gets the point across..." LOL!:lol:
I have done my look when kids are misbehaving. I have even stopped kids and talked to them. Once two kids were plowing down the aisle of the store and knocked my cart. I said, "excuse me" and then gave them some, uh, helpful advice. I have also just turned to a kid and given the look. Mostly I just smile at kids though!!
I use the look all the time with misbehaving kids in public. I got my look within a week of school starting, you learn it FAST!
"the look" is the best. I use it as a teacher, mom, and wife! lol Have you ever looked in the mirror while you do it?
:lol: I have been working on that "look" for a couple of years, as I am going into my fifth year of teaching, and my nineth year of mothering. My kids and I were at Walmart buying odds and ends, and some groceries when two of my kids were returning from the bathroom in a very "not so quiet" way. I gave them a look that I hoped would get my point across and I hear to the side of me "My mother used to give me that look and OH MY!" :lol: Apparently, we had amuzed another customer! Yay! I have my look!!
I use "the look" on my own mother! Yes, I do! Sometimes my mom can get carried away being so silly (she's a hilarious person, I think she missed her calling of going into comedy) and sometimes I get to the point that I want her to stop and I give her my teacher look. She stops immediately and tells me that she prays every day for my poor little fifth graders who have to see that look numerous times a day!
I definitely found my look quickly. I also found it amusing when a student last year asked if they "teach us how to shush so good in teacher school" "Good shushing" is probably one of the weirdest compliments I've ever received!
