If you’ve taught for more than 5 minutes, you’ve undoubtedly wondered the following:

• Is what I’m teaching registering?
• Am I connecting?
• Are they learning?

I mean, after all, what kind of teacher would you be if you didn’t frequently assess these metrics?  But they (the students) ARE checking you out, even if you’re totally unaware, often in ways you would’ve never guessed.

Today, one of my more reserved students, pointed out, “Mr. Sturtevant, I love the way you always match your glasses belt and shoes!”

BAM!  You’ve got to be kidding me…you noticed!!

Sturtevant Dress Code, of course, dictates that the glasses, belt, and shoes must match, but I’d have never guessed that this, or any, student would’ve noticed.  What an eye-opener!

The take away…never underestimate your ability to influence kids.  You may think they’re not listening, not paying attention, but often times, they are.

Never underestimate the power of our example!

If you’d like to learn more about connecting with students, check out my book “You’ve Gotta Connect”

You can also listen to me talk about connecting with students on the following podcasts:

Inspiring Educators with Sung Lee http://bit.ly/1yaBkpe

Cult of Pedagogy with Jennifer Gonzalez http://bit.ly/1sFSbBl

Principal Center Radio with Justin Baeder http://bit.ly/1yXcN89

All Sides on NPR’s WOSU 89.7 with Ann Fisher http://bit.ly/1wO2GDX

Middle School Matters http://bit.ly/1uO0dUh

Please visit my website https://jamesalansturtevant.com/ and follow me on Twitter @jamessturtevant