The 11th Standard

A few nights ago I was working on my professional growth plan as an assignment for the Classroom Organization and Management class I’m taking this semester. The growth plan involves the 10 Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) standards. There are standards for diversity, community involvement, pedagogy, student development, and so on, but, there is no standard for positivity. Of all the skills a new teacher should embody, being positive should definitely be on the top of the list. If I was tasked with writing in this ‘11th Standard’ right now, I’d phrase it like this:

Standard 11: Relentless Positivity

The teacher is a beacon for learning in the classroom and faces each aspect of the instructional day with a positive attitude and actively seeks to banish any negativity.

Key Indicators
The Candidate:

11.1 Greets each student as a welcome, beneficial member of the school community.

11.2 Faces each school day with enthusiasm and a cheerful disposition while viewing each challenge as a new oppotunity for learning.

11.3 Works with all members of administration, faculty, and staff in a way that reflects aforementioned cheerful disposition.

11.4 Energetically finds ways to spread positivity throughout the classroom through the use of kind words, smiles, encouragement, and acceptance.

11.5 Will professionally address but rise above any frustrations.