My little boy has several teachers at daycare, so everyday he is with a different teacher when I pick him up. Most days he claps his hands and rushes towards me when he sees me — except when he’s with Ms. Denise. When she is there with him at the end of the day, he doesn’t want to leave.
Why? All of his teachers are super warm, caring, responsible. So, I’ve been thinking about what sets Ms. Denise apart from the others: She’s over the top, she sings, she dances, she is always laughing.
Now, this is age-appropriate for babies. But I’ve seen it with kids of all ages through high school. They are drawn to the teachers who like to infuse laughter and joy into the learning process. Try it and see how you can increase the level of excitement the students have to be in your class!