The thing about teaching is that you cannot be overly concerned about the students’ opinions of you. You have to be strict for their sake. You have to maintain fairness and sincerity without offending or discouraging them. You also have to keep them engaged and focused, by determining the best small groups to maximize each student’s learning. I’m learning to assess and plan for my classes based on the median of the class, because that benefits the class best. I cannot worry too much about those who fall behind, nor am I able to challenge the high-achievers as much as they dare to be challenged. I have to manage a whole class, understand the classroom dynamic, and balance my strengths and weaknesses as a teacher with their individual learning needs.
