Can the Teacher’s Mood Impact Student Performance?

It is not uncommon for students to attribute your outburst in class to a bad mood or an “off day”. No matter how hard we try to hide it, students have an uncanny sense of ability to detect our moods and emotions. The problem, if and how our mood affects or influences student performance.

Teaching can be an emotionally challenging process. Capturing the attention of eager minds and imparting knowledge to them calls upon every skill and resource that we are equipped with. We try to control and modulate each and every part of their learning process right from the classroom arrangement and setting to the different pedagogic strategies and technologies that we incorporate in order to facilitate and advance student performance. When such consideration is given to each factor that may influence learning, it is imperative that we reflect and introspect on the affects of our mood on students and their performance.

Happy teachers a happy classroom

Teachers who are content, strive to motivate their students to engage in active learning and in turn this enhances student performance.

They carefully plan out their classes, incorporate strategies and reinforcements that are best suited to the class, build team dynamics and focus on the process of learning rather than the end product alone. They make use of various assessment tools to measure student performance instead of depending on the grade system alone. As a result, students are equally motivated to optimize and advance their learning and performance.

Teachers who are perceived as being caring and supportive are often sought out for some heart to heart discussions and guidance, thereby addressing factors that might have been hindering the student from excelling in his studies.

On the other hand, an angry or discontent teacher gives way to a class of less enthusiastic students and decrease in student performance. Harsher words, excessive work and punishments are thought to be associated with such teachers. Students are often passive in such classes, rarely ready to raise a question or a query and prompt to rush out when the bell rings.

Anger in the classroom, does not imply the act of throwing things (pens or other objects), but refers to our verbal and non-verbal behavior. These may range from using harsh de-motivating words or terms, glaring at students or even slapping our forehead as a gesture of defeat, and are all unacceptable expressions of behavior within a classroom. These acts breach the confidence and trust of students and gives way to a class of non-committed students.

What can be done?

As humans, we are subject to constant changes in our mood and emotions. However, the golden rule to follow in each case is to “leave your troubles at the door and walk in with a smile.”

Sometimes when we are angry with the class, it is important that we adhere to the acceptable expressions of anger. This may include firmly explaining the mistakes made, pointing out the rules that should have been followed and clearly listing down the behaviors that would not be tolerated (for example, a late submission). As students familiarize themselves with the teacher, they become more sensitive to the expressions of anger demonstrated in class.

Teachers may equip themselves with strategies that will help them stay calm in all situations like using humor to defuse the tension, starting up a general discussion or counting backwards from 10 to 1.

As teachers, we constitute a major part of the student’s life and it is important that we use the time constructively to achieve the best for our students without letting our moods’ get the better of us. As one would say, “smile and the world smiles right back at you”.

Discuss here: How does your mood affect your teaching?

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