how to be a good role model for younger students essay brainly

Smart Classroom Management

How To Be A Role Model For Your Students (And Not An Internet Troll)

Who you are and how you carry yourself has a powerful impact on student behavior.

More than most teachers realize.

It’s not just about using the right classroom management strategies. It’s about whether and to the degree your students respect you and look up to you—and thus want to please you.

Role models are in short supply in this day and age.

So if you can step forward and offer a living and breathing portrait that inspires who they’d like to become, it will result in real behavioral change.

What follows are eight things you can do right now to be the role model your students are looking for.

If you’re leaving petty complaints or mean comments on blogs or social media, or if you gossip and moan with your colleagues, then you’re going to find negativity wherever you look.

Especially in your students, which they can recognize in you from a mile away and want no part of.

In order to begin seeing the best in them and who they can become, and in order for them to begin looking up to you, you must stop searching for reasons to be offended.

Instead, be part of the solution.

Focus on how you can be better for others instead of undermining them with your negative attitude. Live who you aspire to be in this moment by changing your thinking, and you’ll be worth admiring.

Do what you say.

If you say you’re going to follow through on your classroom management plan and you don’t do it, then your students won’t trust you.

You’ll be just another adult who has let them down.

You’ll be just another teacher who fails to protect their right to learn and enjoy school without worry over being bothered, bullied, and interrupted.

Their opinion of you, privately, will be among the dust on the classroom floor until you start doing what you promised. Consistency in word and deed is rare, but it will make you stick out like a flower among thorns.

It will make you someone your students will hold in the highest regard.

Keep your cool.

Taking the misbehavior of a child personally shows immaturity, no matter your age, and a lack of emotional control. It also opens the floodgates of disrespect and rude behavior.

When students know they can push your buttons and get under your skin they’ll exploit it for all it’s worth.

Handling misbehavior with grace, even kindness, on the other hand—while still following through—stands out to students. It’s remarkable, admirable, and deeply appreciated.

It’s also far more effective in curbing unwanted behavior, causing true remorse and the desire not to make the same mistakes again.

Furthermore, how you handle adversity, frustration, bad luck, etc. in front of your students will be how they handle it in front of you.

Focus on them.

Blah, blah, blah, people love to talk about themselves, even teachers in front of students. Instead of citing your degrees or organizations you belong to or years of experience or how you put yourself through college, focus on them.

While in class, it’s not about you.

It’s not about your politics. It’s not about your wants and needs. It’s not about the difficulties in your life, your future goals, or your stressful morning. Be a pro and keep them to yourself.

Put them behind lock and key the moment you pull into the parking lot.

Besides, getting away from you and looking outward at the world around you is healthy. It will make you happier and more appreciative of what you have, which will show and glow in front of your students.

It will cause them to begin doing the same. In time, your class will become selfless, altruistic, and kind to classmates who are struggling or different than themselves.

Be positive.

Have you ever heard the expression “your thoughts are showing?” Negative thoughts about your students—about anything, actually—will always bubble to the surface.

It’s something you can’t hide. It’s glaringly obvious to people around you in your voice, body language, and tension you bring to the classroom.

A positive thought life on the other hand will result in a calm, positive demeanor, which is contagious. It will spread from you to every student in your classroom. The best thing is that it is nearly instantaneous.

You can turn the energy around in your classroom by breathing full and easy, standing up straight and confident, smiling, and refusing to indulge in negative thinking.

See the best in your students and their best is what they’ll give you.

Be professional.

Although it’s important to have fun with your students, to tell stories, and even be silly, there is a line that must never be crossed. Be a professional in all your interactions with students and staff, including the way you speak and dress.

They’re watching it all.

They notice how you treat others. They notice if you play favorites and the subtle way in which you smile at some but not others. They notice when you’re late or you check your phone or you monotone through a lesson.

Students are far more observant and influenced by what they see than most teachers realize. Much more so than what you say. Classroom management, after all, is about action. It’s about integrity and leadership.

It’s about no excuses and learning the principles and strategies that actually work in today’s classrooms and then putting them into practice.

Be prepared.

Teachers who hem and haw, dovetail off topic, and talk a lot carry little weight with students, who tune them out. In fact, they hardly notice their existence.

Do you ever feel inconsequential? Do you feel like you have to repeat yourself and raise your voice to be heard? This, along with inconsistency, is why.

Thus, when it’s time to step in front of your students, be ready. Visualize your day and know what your objective is for every lesson and every scintilla of instruction. Then speak succinctly and clearly.

Model and define your expectations explicitly.

Be efficient. Don’t waste their time. Tell it like it is, provide great instruction, and then move on. Say what you need to say to get them working. Most teachers would benefit by cutting their amount of talking by one-third.

This alone will greatly improve listening, work habits, and interest in you and your lessons.

Having struggles in your personal life? So are we all. Covid got you down? Welcome to the club. Put it behind you in the few hours you’re with your students and show them how to behave when things are tough.

Pull your shoulders back, look your students in the eye, and say what you mean. Be the same, consistent YOU during all seasons. Be the steady hand that guides the ship .

Be the smile, kindness, grace, and confident visage they can count on every day.

Through thick and thin. Hold yourself to a high standard, believe in your ability, and love the amazing blessing it is to work with students.

Leader or Troll

They are watching. And what you do and say and the way you carry yourself matters. It makes a big difference in their behavior, satisfaction of school, and respect for you.

It’s one reason why some teachers have an “it” factor, that secret something that causes students to want to behave and succeed in their presence.

The truth is, it’s easy pickings.

There are so few role models in this day and age that students will bend over backward to be around and please the real thing. It makes building rapport effortless and gives your consequences leverage to curb any misbehavior.

If you believe that there isn’t an approach to teaching and classroom management that can deliver your dream class year after year no matter where you teach, you are wrong.

All of our strategies here at SCM are proven to work—and are still being proven every day—in the most difficult schools and classrooms imaginable. Not just by me (Yes, I still teach at an urban public school), but by hundreds of thousands of teachers around the globe.

By principals who have transformed their schools.

If you have questions about why we recommend certain strategies, then spend time in our archive or pick up one of our books . Do your due diligence. Learn and try them out for yourself before casting stones.

When you dig into the details you’ll find that what we offer—the combination of principles and strategies and the way they’re delivered—is unique.

As mentioned many times before, we welcome and appreciate all comments, even those that disagree. But I want to restate very clearly that we will not approve anything meanspirited.

Be better than that.

And remember that when you leave an email address on any website, your students and employer can look these up. They last forever. There are a number of educational leaders who should know better that leave snarky and petty comments on this blog.

They’re lucky we don’t publish them.

If you dislike Smart Classroom Management and our success, go to any other site or social media platform and shout it to the world. Call me a fraud or out of touch or anything you like. But please don’t come into our living room here at SCM and expect to get a voice for your hostility.

Perhaps consider an alternative approach and swallow your pride. Take responsibility and stop making excuses for why your classroom, school, or organization is failing and go study our methods.

Go be part of the solution. Go be a role model for your students, teachers, and community who need a leader and true expert to follow.

If you haven’t done so already, please join us. It’s free! Click here and begin receiving classroom management articles like this one in your email box every week.

29 thoughts on “How To Be A Role Model For Your Students (And Not An Internet Troll)”

This was very informative. I am always looking for ways to improve myself and my teaching skills. There were some pointers that I already knew then there were some I never knew or thought about. Thank you so much.

Hi I truly enjoy your articles. I share them with my colleagues and administrators. I have learned a lot and have been reminded of things forgotten. I wanted to say I like the way you politely called out the negative, haters in this article. I enjoy the way you write. You cover a lot of material, concisely.

You people are amazing. You hit the nail on the head every. Single. Time.

Yes, Debbie – I agree 100%. I just read the article and discussed each point with my 15 year old son (who also happens to be one of my students this year). The process merited a great discussion and my own renewed commitment to be this kind of example. Thanks, Michael, for all you do!

I love your methods and blog. It has changed my teaching life! Thank you so much for your wisdom, expertise, and all you do!

Another great post Michael, these are all spot on. One question in the Focus on Them section. We are encouraged (to the point of expectation) to talk about what college we went to, our experience there and our degrees. We post our colleges in our rooms and what we wanted to be when we grew up, then facilitate regular conversations about it. This is supposed to (in elementary school) inspire our students to go to college. How do we incorporate this and not focus on ourselves?

Elementary students don’t need to be inspired to go to college. They are 11 years old and younger! I understand your school sadly forces you to do this, but it is frankly a waste of time. Inspire your students to be the best people they can be, to persevere through challenges, to develop strong character. In doing so, you will prepare them to go to college (if they choose to) far better than talking about your experience in college. Also, college is not necessarily the best path for everyone. A good living can be made from going to a trade school or starting a business.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong at all with telling them about some of your college experiences, but to shove it down their throats all the time is useless. Spend more time learning about your students and their passions instead!

Thank you for this. I work as an ESL teacher in Korea and it’s nearly impossible to find another teacher like me who isn’t negative and complaining all the time. This is a great encouragement and reminder to keep working hard for my students. Thank you

Thank you for your own role modelling. You are my inspiration and motivational speaker 🙂 I read your blog and it helps me find a new perspective or refresher on an area of teaching. It helps keep me thinking and behaving positively and I really appreciate that! I always have a great take away and often use “it” in my parenting too! Thank you!

I second this! Except I think of Michael as an experienced “Sgt. Linsin” reminding and inspiring his troops how to get out there and make a success of things the same way he has–it’s great! I like how he’s not afraid to speak the truth firmly but kindly.

Once again this year, my new and difficult classes have turned around for the better, and it’s largely because of SCM!

I’m a former medical sales professional-turned-stay at home mom- turned substitute teacher. I read every blog, have one of your books and try to implement things you suggest. And you know what? They work! I have high job satisfaction and my students like and respect me (I think lol). Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience. It’s changed my life and I hope it has a ripple effect.

I struggled at playing music for years until I came across a teacher that helped me understand the guitar framework. I had a lightbulb moment, and I’ve been hooked on playing ever since. I’m glad you have this site and also referenced Rick Morris, who I’ve also learned a lot from in just a few days. I’m looking forward to my next year of teaching and using the teaching framework that you and Rick obviously understand, based on the consistent success you both have had.

p.s. With about 8 days left in school, I tried your techniques as a bus monitor…finally. I laid out all the rules in a lighthearted, engaging way. I also described that they get a warning if they break a rule (like a second chance) and a 10 minute recess detention if they break two rules. Then I observed like a hawk. The students have gone from needing reminders to keep feet out of the aisle (et cetera) constantly, to maintaining all the rules faithfully the whole ride. I only need to give a warning to a few individual students, typically. I also feel like the kids respect and appreciate me. Thanks, man. I appreciate your advice.

If I get a book, which one should I start with??

The Classroom Management Secret

Well said, as always!

Mr. Linsin, I read you posts weekly, and your book, The Classroom Management Secret, was required reading before teaching at my last school, a homeschool coop. My current school, a public, classical charter school, also encourages subscribing to your weekly posts. I consistently love your posts.

While many of your suggestions are common sense, I find the reminders help me to gain perspective as I reflect on my classroom and plan my approach. Your insights are clearly grounded in your experience and offer wisdom that is needed and easy to employ. Thank you for sharing your practical advice weekly. It’s a great help to me. I appreciate you! Blessings, Lisa Campbell

Yes Michael! This article has me all pumped up! I know I can be a much more consistent leader in my classroom than I have been. Thank you for laying it all out like this.

Dear Michael, I’m retiring this year after 38 years of teaching. It has been an awesome experience! After so many years in the classroom, I have learned that students watch what we do and listen to everything we say. I have found that successful students, struggling students, hard to reach students and even seemingly dis-connected students will always respond to honesty, courtesy and respect. This is really what every human being wants. When we meet this need for our students, we can begin to teach. It’s all about establishing an honest relationship. We, as teachers have the responsibility to demonstrate this in our interactions with students, both in and out of the classroom. The words you have shared in this blog are among the best you have written so far because they are so true! Thank you for sharing your wisdom!

I love these SCM and I believe they’ve helped me become a better teacher, even though I’m not near where I need to be. I struggle with consistency, and every year I just hope I’ve gotten better than the year before. I also struggle with kids (high schoolers) talking when I’m teaching. If you know what I’m most likely doing wrong, I’m all ears! And thank you for these emails. I truly get a lot out of them.

Fantastic. I couldn’t agree more. It is important that we as educators carry ourselves in a mature manner. I see so many teachers gossiping in the hallway, or complaining and murmuring about something or another~ and this is a complete turn off to me. I can only imagine what the students think.

I really appreciate the SCM team and I know they’ve helped me become a better teacher, even though I’m not near where I need to be for my students sake. I struggle with consistency, and every year I just hope I’ve gotten better than the year before. I also struggle with kids (high school) talking when I’m teaching. Thanks once again for the wisdom and care in all you publish.

Smart classroom management has made me a better and happier teacher. I love the kids but was so inconsistent. The last two years have been a dream because I have had the support of smart classroom management. I don’t get it right everyday, but I clear the decks and start again. The kids don’t even blink when they get a warning. They understand. They get up and go to time out before I even tell them they have a second warning. I have other teachers sending their kids out of their rooms and sometimes into my classroom. The kids look so rejected. I don’t lecture them or ask them why they are there. I make them feel welcome and get them to do whatever we are doing and they behave so beautifully. On the days I get it really wrong, I feel like I need help, but I just think about what Michael would say to me and get on with it. Thank you Michael!

You guys rock! Because of you guys I have seen a change in my life and classroom! thank you!

Great advice as always thank you so much.

Dear Michael Linsin,

I have been looking for advice on classroom management for more than 20 years. Nothing I tried seemed to really work for me. It wouldn’t fit with my longing for being real and respectful to my students. The SCM approach is the answer to all my problems! (Thank Google for knowing what I am looking for 😅!) I started over with my (your) classroom management plan, promising to my first graders, I would protect their right to learn and enjoy school, no matter what, just six weeks ago. The result is mind blowing! I still make lots of mistakes of course. But I leave my classroom each afternoon smiling. And I come back each morning full of new energy and positive this is going to be another great day 🤩! Thank you for writing down what you learned by observing and helping me – and thousands of other teachers – becoming the role models they want to be for their students. I am reading The Happy Teacher Habits right now and am eagerly waiting for your next blog each week. This text about being a role model spoke straight to my heart. So I needed to write to you and say thank you right away. Thank you very much!

If you ever should be in need of translation into German, (especially if you should plan on coming to Austria) you can contact me. I have worked on translating non-fiction and have translated at talks and seminars before.

Thank you so much for your work. I makes me love teaching even more!

Valentine Wimmer Salzburg, Austria http://www.vs-taxham.com

Your advice is always great and puts me in a great mindset! Thank you!

By the grace of God, I found your blog before I began my first year of teaching in my late 50’s. I knew it was the perfect fit for my personality. I have done my best to adhere to your principles for the last three years. It is truly an effective management policy, and has made me “one of the best teachers” (not my words) at our private school. The students do respect me and do their best because of that. Thank you for sharing all of this knowledge. It is the foundation of a successful classroom! I tell other teachers about it all of the time.

Hmmm…sorry about my navigational inabilities..I think I commented in the wrong spot…but the gist of my comment was that this article inspired me to be okay with asking the hard questions…..especially asking myself…the ultimate non listener. Having my own child….being his First Teacher….has refined me as a leader. It is exhausting work. That I survived those middle school years…and he is a productive citizen, smart and kind…..Thankful I Am!

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Teachers as Role Models

Updated: Nov 9, 2021

The Early Career Framework states that teachers must learn that... Teachers are key role models, who can influence the attitudes, values and behaviours of their pupils.

A role model is a person whose behaviour, example, or success is or can be emulated by others, especially by younger people. The term role model is credited to sociologist Robert K. Merton, who coined the phrase during his career. Merton hypothesized that individuals compare themselves with reference groups of people who occupy the social role to which the individual aspires. An example being the way young fans will idolize and imitate professional athletes or entertainment artists.

True role models are those who possess the qualities that we would like to have, and those who have affected us in a way that makes us want to be better people. They help us to advocate for ourselves and take a leadership position on the issues that we believe in.

Role models show young people how to live with integrity, optimism, hope, determination, and compassion. They play an essential part in a child’s positive development.

Teachers are key role models, who can influence the attitudes, values and behaviours of their pupils. A positive role model serves as an example–inspiring children to live meaningful lives. Teachers are a constant presence in a child's life. They influence children as much as—if not even more than—parents do. Over the years, I've seen the tremendous impact teachers have had on their students. They're not just educators; they're role models who inspire and motivate children outside the classroom as much as they impart knowledge inside it.

Role models are people who influence others by serving as examples. They are often admired by the people who emulate them. Through their perceived personal qualities, behaviours, or achievements, they can inspire others to strive and develop without providing any direct instruction. Social scientists have shown that much of learning that occurs during childhood is acquired through observation and imitation. For most children, the most important role models are their parents and caregivers, who have a regular presence in their lives. After these, it is their teachers. Teachers follow students through each pivotal stage of development. At six to eight hours a day, five days a week, you as a teacher are poised to become one of the most influential people in your students’ life. After their parents, children will first learn from you, their primary school teacher. Then, as a middle school teacher, you will guide students through yet another important transition: adolescence. As children become young adults, learning throughout middle school and into high school, you will answer their questions, listen to their problems and teach them about this new phase of their lives. You not only watch your students grow you help them grow.

As a teacher, it is impossible to not model. Your students will see your example – positive or negative – as a pattern for the way life is to be lived.

According to David Streight, executive director of the Council for Spiritual and Ethical Education and a nationally certified school psychologist, we know the following about good role models for children:

The way you act and the kind of model you offer your students constitutes one of the five well-researched practices proven to maximize the chances your students will grow up with good consciences and well-developed moral reasoning skills.

The right kind of modelling can influence how much empathy your students will end up feeling and showing in later life.

The chances of your students growing up to be altruistic – to be willing to act for the benefit of others, even when there are no tangible rewards involved – are better depending on the kinds of role models children grow up with.

Good role models can make lifelong impressions on children, regarding how to act in the difficult situations that they will inevitably face in life.

Role modelling is a powerful teaching tool for passing on the knowledge, skills, and values of the medical profession, but its net effect on the behaviour of students is often negative rather than positive

“ We must acknowledge . . . that the most important, indeed the only, thing we have to offer our students is ourselves. Everything else they can read in a book.” – D C Tosteson

Role models differ from mentors. Role models inspire and teach by example, often while they are doing other things. Mentors have an explicit relationship with a student over time, and they more often direct the student by asking questions and giving advice freely.

Ducharme (1993), Guilfoyle, Hamilton, Placier, and Pinnegar (1995), as well as Regenspan (2002), remind us of the complex dual role of teacher educators. Korthagen, Loughran, and Lunenberg (2005) elaborate on this when they say:

Teacher educators not only have the role of supporting student teachers’ learning about teaching, but in so doing, through their own teaching, model the role of the teacher. In this respect, the teacher education profession is unique, differing from, say, doctors who teach medicine. During their teaching, doctors do not serve as role models for the actual practice of the profession i.e., they do not treat their students. Teacher educators, conversely, whether intentionally or not, teach their students as well as teach about teaching

Being a positive role model requires effort, fore-thought, and self-control for most teachers. Because your students are watching you all the time, your actions, beliefs, and attitudes become integrated into your students’ way of being; therefore, it is very important that you be very intentional about what behaviours you model for your students.

Unfortunately for teachers, the saying “Do as I say, not as I do” simply does not work. Students can sniff out hypocrisy like a blood hound, and they gain the most from teachers who demonstrate consistency between their actions and their values by “walking the talk.”

Students respect adults who live by the rules they preach. Hypocrisy disillusions students and sends them looking for alternative role models to follow.

Model through your own actions. For example, consider how you:

handle stress and frustration

respond to problems

express anger and other emotions

treat other people

deal with competition, responsibilities, loss, mistakes

celebrate special occasions

take care of yourself (what you eat, how much you exercise, balance your commitments)

Your students are not only watching you carefully for clues about how to be; they are also listening to you. The way you speak, what you speak about, and the opinions you express will influence their values.

Consider how you speak to them.

Do you model respect of others through your words and tone of voice?

Do your words indicate respect for differences and tolerance toward all people or do they subtly support lack of acceptance for others different from yourself?

Do you “bully” your students with harsh words and threats when they misbehave, or do you respond with discipline based on respect for your students’ humanity?

Ask yourself what kind of people you want your students to become, and then consider what you can do to model the behaviours and attitudes that would reflect that kind of person. This is another way of saying that it is helpful for you to examine your own values.

For example, do you want your students to:

develop a strong work ethic?

have a generosity of spirit?

have courage?

stand up for their beliefs?

be kind and considerate?

be patient?

be diligent and persistent?

be assertive?

be a contributing member of society?

take good care of their bodies?

be open to new learning? To find pleasure in reading?

If you wish for these traits in your students, then do these things yourself!

You will be a larger influence in your students’ lives if you have a warm and nurturing relationship with them, and your students are more likely to emulate you if they feel close to you and supported by you.

Give them unconditional “love” in a safe environment that also provides consistent, firm, and flexible discipline so they know what is expected of them.

Listen to them without judgment when they are upset. Share your own feelings with them so they get to know you; share some of your choices and decision-making as examples to guide them.

Build a connection with them based on trust so they know they can count on you when they need you, and so that they learn to be trustworthy in return.

Nobody is perfect – neither you nor your students. That means that mistakes will be made. What is most important when mistakes are made is the way you handle the situation.

When you or your students or someone else makes an error:

are you unforgiving or accepting?

do you deal calmly with the situation to resolve it or do you berate the perpetrator?

do you get angry and look for someone to blame or do you assess what has gone wrong and consider what can be learned to avoid a repetition?

If you make a mistake by doing something that you later regret, you can use that as an opportunity to show your students how to handle errors in judgment by:

acknowledging the misstep.

accepting responsibility for your part in it.

apologizing to any hurt parties.

finding ways to make amends.

thinking about what you can do next time so you don’t repeat the error.

These steps are all part of a healthy process of reacting when you mess up. This is the same process you can use if you respond to your students in a way that you later regret.

And what do you do when your students make a mistake? You can:

let them know that mistakes are opportunities for learning and that nobody is perfect.

help them to go through the steps outlined.

have a forgiving and responsible attitude toward making mistakes.

There are no hard and fast rules to being a "good role model" but there are several articles available online for you to read which give some great tips.

Dr. Robyn J.A. Silverman has a fabulous article which details seven ways teachers can make a positive impact (read the full article here ). While there is some variation in every teacher’s definition of what it means to be a good person, the following 7 characteristics of a positive role model remain constant:

Model positive choice-making

Think out loud

Apologise and admit mistakes

Follow through

Show respect

Be well rounded

Demonstrate confidence in who you are

In her article, these seven characteristics are further explained and there is a lot you can take from it. @TeacherToolkit advocates a DECIPHER model in his article "8 Tips For Becoming A Teacher Role Model" which is another excellent read. Marilyn Price-Mitchell, PhD write about 5 qualities that matter as a role model in her article " What is a Role Model? Five Qualities that Matter to Youth ". Clarendon Learning also provide advice on how/why teachers ARE role models in their article and Dr Candice Singh writes Role Model: 4 Tips on How to Be The Best One in Your Students’ Lives .

The Early Career Framework

[Further reading recommendations are indicated with an asterisk.]

Aronson, J. (Ed.) (2002) Improving academic achievement: Impact of psychological factors on education. New York: Academic Press.

Bandura, A. (1986) Social foundations of thought and action: a social cognitive theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Campbell Collaboration (2018) School-based interventions for reducing disciplinary school exclusion: A Systematic Review. Accessible from: https://campbellcollaboration.org/library/reducing-school-exclusion-school-based-interventions.html .

Chapman, R. L., Buckley, L., & Sheehan, M. (2013) School-Based Programs for Increasing Connectedness and Reducing Risk Behavior: A Systematic Review, 25(1), 95–114.

Chetty, R., Friedman, J. N., Rockoff, J. E. (2014)

Measuring the Impacts of Teachers II: Teacher Value-Added and Student Outcomes in Adulthood. American Economic Review, 104(9), 2633–2679. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.104.9.2633 .

*Education Endowment Foundation (2018) Sutton Trust-Education Endowment Foundation Teaching and Learning Toolkit: Accessible from: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/evidence-summaries/teaching-learning-toolkit [retrieved 10 October 2018].

Hanushek, E. (1992) The Trade-off between Child Quantity and Quality. Journal of Political Economy, 100(4), 859–887.

*Institute of Education Sciences (2008) Reducing Behavior Problems in the Elementary School Classroom. Accessible from https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/PracticeGuide/4

Johnson, S., Buckingham, M., Morris, S., Suzuki, S., Weiner, M., Hershberg, R., B. Weiner, Hershberg, R., Fremont, E., Batanova, M., Aymong, C., Hunter, C., Bowers, E., Lerner, J., & Lerner, R. (2016) Adolescents’ Character Role Models: Exploring Who Young People Look Up to as Examples of How to Be a Good Person. Research in Human Development, 13(2), 126–141. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427609.2016.1164552

Jussim, L. & Harber, K., (2005) Teacher Expectations and Self-Fulfilling Prophecies: Knowns and Unknowns, Resolved and Unresolved Controversies, Personality and Social Psychology Review 2005, Vol. 9, No. 2, 131–1557.

Lazowski, R. A., & Hulleman, C. S. (2016) Motivation Interventions in Education: A Meta-Analytic Review. Review of Educational Research, 86(2), 602–640. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654315617832 .

Murdock-Perriera, L. A., & Sedlacek, Q. C. (2018) Questioning Pygmalion in the twenty-first century: the formation, transmission, and attributional influence of teacher expectancies. Social Psychology of Education, 21(3), 691–707. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-018-9439-9 .

*PISA (2015) PISA in Focus: Do teacher-student relations affect students’ well-being at school? Accessible from: https://doi.org/10.1787/22260919 .

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Helping Others — Good Role Models: Inspiring Positive Influence

Good Role Models: Inspiring Positive Influence

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Published: Aug 1, 2024

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Positive influence, exemplary character, mentorship and support.

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How to Be a Good Role Model for Your Students?

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How do you define a good teacher? A good teacher is someone who has students excited about learning. They are passionate about their subject, and they make it fun for the class to learn. But what makes these teachers so successful? What are some of the keys to being an amazing role model for your students? Here are 20 tips on how to be a great role model in the classroom:

Who Is a Role Model?

Role models are people who we look up to and want to be like. They can be teachers, celebrities, or even family members. They have qualities that we admire and want to develop ourselves. A role model is someone who leads by example and helps others become better individuals themselves.

A role model should possess ten core qualities:

1) Time: Role models give their time and care to students.

2) Values: They lead by example and live out the same values they teach in class.

3) Care: A role model cares about his or her students and wants them to do well academically, physically, and emotionally.

4) Charisma: People follow a strong leader with charisma.

5) Optimism: A role model is generally optimistic about life and his or her students.

6) Discipline: They are disciplined in both their education and their own lives, and they expect the same from their students.

7) Patience: Role models understand that patience is a virtue; it takes time to develop strong, lasting relationships.

8) Commitment: Role models are committed to their work and students’ academic success.

9) Knowledge: They have high expectations of themselves and others, so they always seek to learn more.

10) Empathy: A role model shows empathy for his or her students because he or she knows how life is like outside of school; we as people are more than just academics.

Role models give back to the community and recognize that they do not succeed alone. They encourage students to be like them and hopefully one day, those students will become role models themselves.

Why Being a Role Model is Important for students Growth?

Being a role model is important for students’ growth, if you want your students to behave properly and do well in school, you must set an example for them.

It is essential for teachers to be role models for students. Some benefits include:

1. Students learn about proper and improper behavior. If a teacher is expected to teach students social norms, the teacher must model those social norms themselves in order for them to properly understand what is expected of them as they grow up and make their own decisions.

2. Students learn by example, and if the teacher is here to teach them about the world around them, then they will take in examples of how the teachers think and act. If the students see the teacher engaging in proper behavior, it may influence their actions when they are not under direct observation or supervision.

3. Teachers set an example for their students and will treat them how they would like to be treated. If the teacher is rude or uncaring towards his or her students, then that may influence how the students act in return.

4. Teaching students about roles and responsibilities may help them grow into better citizens in the future when they are out of school.

5. Students may be more likely to respect their teachers if the teacher is respected by his or her peers and students. If a student does not see their teacher as somebody they want to emulate, then they are less likely to care about what the teacher has to say in regards to education matters.

6. Teachers can be examples of how to act when you are in difficult situations.

7. Teachers may help students realize they want to emulate them, which can give the teacher more power in the classroom. That can lead to better results in terms of student engagement, motivation, and overall morale during the school day.

8. Teaching students about role models can help them understand the importance of certain positions in society, which will lead to better respect for those people.

9. Students are more likely to treat their teachers with respect if they know that the teacher is somebody who they want to be like.

10. Teachers should be seen as role models because it will help students focus on what the teacher wants them to learn because they are more likely to follow the example that their teacher sets for them.

How to Become a Role Model for Your Students ?

Being a role model is important for students’ growth, if you want your students to behave properly and do well in school, you must set an example for them. Here are some guidelines to help teachers become effective role models:

1. Do not yell at students in anger.

2. Maintain a professional physical appearance. Make sure that you are dressed professionally for work every day and that your body is clean and well-groomed. Never go to class without showering after gym class or after exercising, no matter how rushed you are at the end of the day.

3. Treat all students with respect, even if they do not show the same courtesy to you or other people in your school. You should be patient and kind to everyone that you meet during the course of your workday.

4. Keep yourself busy at all times while you are at work. Instead of standing around idly, keep your hands occupied with work. If you have free time, use the opportunity to plan lessons or tutor students who are struggling.

5. Keep your classroom neat at all times so that your students do not have to worry about making a mess. Try to organize everything neatly so that it is easy for everyone to find what they are looking for.

6. Show your students personal examples of how you work hard to achieve the things that you have. Lead by example, and not just through words. If you want them to be punctual, do not arrive late yourself. If you want them to take their studies seriously, do not joke around when it is time for study hall.

7. Encourage your students to participate in class and help them to succeed on any tests or projects that they have while you are their teacher. Offer encouragement on a regular basis, not just when the students need it most.

8. Listen carefully when students speak so that you can understand everything they are trying to say. Do not pretend to understand if you do not, and do not make them struggle to convey an idea. If a student is having trouble expressing himself, offer ways to fix the problem so he can communicate what he means.

9. Offer to help students outside of class whenever possible, but only if they need your assistance and only if it will not take too much time away from your other duties. Let the students know that you are willing to help them in any way that you can, but do not take advantage of their need for assistance.

10. Do not give up on students who initially resist your attempts to teach them and let them know what is expected of them in order to succeed at school. Your job is to help them learn the material and work hard, not to give up on them because they make a few mistakes at first.

11. Be patient with students who need more time than others to understand what you are teaching. Do not let yourself get too frustrated if a student does not seem to be grasping a concept that seems simple to you.

12. Be organized when it comes to planning your lessons and sticking to them in front of the class. Make sure that you know what you are going to do before you begin a lecture, write out any notes beforehand if necessary.

13. Listen for questions from your students and be ready with complete answers for anything they may ask. Do not ignore their questions and make them feel like you do not care about what they have to say.

14. Arrive at school early and stay as late as possible unless your contract states otherwise. This will show students that you are willing to do anything necessary in order to help them succeed.

15. Find time outside of class to speak casually with your students about their lives and interests. This will make you seem more approachable, and they may begin to open up to you.

16. Constantly evaluate your effectiveness as a teacher in order to determine what you are doing well, where you need improvement, and how the curriculum can be improved for both yourself and your students.

17. Get to know the parents of your students and let them know that you are available at all times should they need anything. If a parent is coming to school for any reason, take the time to reassure him of how much you care about his child before sending him on his way.

18. Be willing to offer advice to new teachers if asked for it, but do not overstep your boundaries by attempting to mentor someone who has already been working for some time.

19. Show respect to all members of the school community, even if you are unhappy with their actions or opinions. You want students to show respect towards others outside the classroom, so be sure that you are practicing what you preach.

20. Attempt to become a role model for your students by following these guidelines and always striving to be the best teacher possible.

  Find out how to become charismatic as a teacher.

Final Thoughts

New teachers are often nervous about how to become role models for their students. To help you get started, we’ve outlined 20 guidelines that will show your students the way towards academic success. More experienced teachers may also find these suggestions helpful as they work on improving their teaching methods and evaluation skills. The key is listening carefully when speaking with your student, so you can understand everything they say before offering assistance or feedback. Check our articles here.

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Role Model Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on role model.

Role Model Essay – There are many people in the world who blindly follow anyone. Also, they admire and love that person no matter what he does. A role model is a person who inspires you to be like him.

Moreover, a role model is the person you love and want to be like him. Besides this, the role model can be anyone from a celebrity to a politician to your family member.

My Role Model

The missile man of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam is my role model. He is my role model not because he has achieved great things in life and become the president of India. He is my role model because he dedicated his entire life to the country and its people especially school children.

His Achievement

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam worked his entire life and achieved many great things in life. But several of his bigger achievements are the testing of Atomic bombs at Pokhran, development of the missile Agni and Prithvi, and becoming the president of India . But there is one more thing which is of great importance that is after his retirement from the presidential post he started teaching because it was his passion.

He always says that this young generation is the future of the country so guide them on the right path and they lead India to greatness.

His Personal Life

Dr. Abdul Kalam was so dedicated to his work that he usually sleeps late at night and wakes up early in the morning. Also, he never misused his power as a president of India. Besides, all this his family (brother and sisters) was also a very humble person who earn their living by doing work and they live simple lives.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Qualities of a Role Model

There are certain qualities of a good role model which make him/her a great man/women. These qualities include a demonstration of confidence and leadership , communication with everyone, being unique, showing respect and concern for others, treating everyone equally, willingness to admit mistakes, and maintaining the same character inside or outside the job. If a person possesses these qualities then he/she can be an ideal role model.

How to be a Role Model for Others?

Being a role model to someone is not an easy task especially if you focus on being a role model. The thing about being a role model is that you only do the right thing and people starts to follow. Also, you do not have to achieve something bigger just follow your heart and the above-mentioned qualities and be patient and you will be a role model one day.

My Other Role Model

Apart from Dr. Abdul Kalam, I have other role models in my life that belong to different fields and different profession. The persons are Ratan Tata, Bill Gates, Will Smith, Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, Kalpana Chawla , Albert Einstein , B.R. Ambedkar, my father, and my mother.

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