Parenting Guide

5 Ways To Reduce Humiliating Moments for Your Students

Published by SchoolAdvisor | Jun 25, 2015

Many of us have experienced the moment of utter embarrassment; where the entire class has their eyes on you and the teacher is expecting an answer yet you just can't think. Your mind shuts down, your heart gallops and you feel like a complete idiot.

Thankfully, we survived those situations and came out stronger. Or are we? Sometimes, as a teacher, it can be tempting to exercise a show of power over our students. We want to feel powerful, respected and in control.

Now, unless you are a high functioning sociopath moonlighting as a teacher, you are most probably a neurotic individual with confidence issues which need to be addressed. Most teachers do have a conscience. They are able to empathize and show compassion. However, teachers being human beings, do get carried away. When this happens, you will need to take a step back and do some self-reflection.

Here are some helpful ways to repair a situation where you've accidentally embarrassed a student and prevent yourself from repeating it in the future:

1. Keep communication between you and your students private when talking about behavior or academic progress.
2. Frequently check with your students that the message they are receiving is the same one that you are sending.
3. Avoid sarcasm, even if your students might laugh at it. Students often save face by hiding how humiliated they really feel.
4. Pay close attention to body language. Sometimes what a student is saying is not what he is feeling. If a student shows discomfort, defensiveness, or withdrawal, make sure everything is OK between you.
5. Call on all students equally. If a student gives a wrong answer, don't say, "Can anybody help him?" Instead, ask the student if he’d like to choose another student to be his consultant. Let him chose his own consultant.