The Power of a Simple Greeting: Why “I’m Glad You’re Here” Matters
Teachers know those first few minutes of class carry so much weight. Students aren’t blank slates walking through the door. They bring with them the noise of the hallway, the stress of a rushed morning, or even much deeper burdens from home.
Believe it or not, a teacher’s opportunity begins even before this.
Imagine:
- A young boy enters an art gallery to attend an art class. The building is large and full of echoes and a stern rule (“Don’t touch anything!”); it’s intimidating. But his teacher is standing at the door with a big smile. Her smock has paint already all over it. She has the visible quirks and qualities of someone who must be a real artist! She’s like a warm ray of light in the echoey gallery, and he knows it’s going to be ok. He enters the classroom already having positive feelings about the class.
- A young girl is attending a dance class. A relative is bringing her today, because her parents are handling things at home. She doesn’t know what’s happening; only that everyone at home is serious and sad all the time, and her mom is going to be in the hospital for a while very soon. No one has smiled at her in weeks. But she knows her dance teacher, so lovely and elegant, is waiting for her at the door. Her dance teacher is always happy to see her. There’s an adult who is always happy to see her. In the uncertainty of her life, she can count on that. Her dance studio becomes a bit of home in her heart.
- He doesn’t mean to have so much energy, it just sort of spills out, and he can’t help it! Moving is the only thing that makes sense to his body, to his senses. He knows during the school day he has to practice how to calm himself enough to listen. He knows his teacher is there to support him; but it’s a struggle for him to learn, and they both know it. But, when he shows up to soccer practice, his coach always kneels down to meet his eyes and asks how he’s doing. His coach offers a fist bump and he’s activated with joyful energy that doesn’t feel like a problem; it feels welcome and so does he.
- Math sucks. He really wishes he didn’t have to go to stupid math tutoring, and why can’t these people just leave him alone? Then again, no matter how hard he pushes back practicing his math, no matter how surly he makes himself appear as they slowly chip away at his math homework, his tutor is always happy to see him. And, ever since his tutor found out that he loves a specific video game, he always mentions it every time he arrives. What, does he play it or something? The fact that an adult is even trying it makes him laugh, but in a way that makes his tutor somehow endearing. He feels like maybe struggling with math doesn’t label him as “stupid;” especially if his tutor might think he’s kind of cool….
That is the Power of a Greeting
It’s not about discipline or control. It’s about belonging. When we tell students at the start, “I see you, I’m glad you’re here,” we’re making an investment in their humanity before we ask anything of them academically.
In the general education classroom, this might look like a teacher standing at the door, making eye contact, and giving each student a moment of recognition before they sit down. In the dance studio, it could be the instructor offering a smile, a quick check-in about how a student’s body feels that day, or even a playful gesture like a bow or a spin. In a tutoring session, it may be a sincere greeting paired with an encouraging comment or small ritual (“How was your day?” or “Ready to show me what you can do?”).
If you’re teaching in any setting, I challenge you to contemplate what this might look for you if you:
1. Showcase readiness: Be presentable, clean, in appropriate uniform for the activity. (If you teach ballet, have your ballet shoes on, soccer coach has athletic wear, music tutor is clean and presentable, etc.) Set the tone for a great experience by looking the part.
2. Greet students at the door. Why not let the good times begin from the first moment? As an educator, it’s a positive start for you as well!
Even if you’re in a class where students drop in during an “arrival window,” I hereby give you permission to not start the class until you actually have them line up specifically to be able to greet them. It’s that important!
3. Smile and use the student’s name. Include some familiarity gesture, like a high-five, fist bump, wave, hug, etc. This is the first part to building a rapport. Everyone loves and needs to feel important to somebody. You might be just the light they need.
4. Bonus: For students who are not engaging, make it a personal mission to find out what they like. Whatever it is, I challenge you to explore it and spend the next 8 sessions incorporating somehow into your greeting or session. Just watch how engagement improves.
Long after the content fades, students will remember how it felt to walk through our doors. And sometimes, what they remember most clearly is that someone was happy to see them.
So if you teach–anything, anywhere–don’t underestimate the quiet power of a warm hello.
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Imagine a platform where teachers and tutors alike can contribute content just like this….
Where a city starts cultivating a village of educators all across multiple settings who are able to learn from each other and share their wisdom in ALL the things they teach.
What if Turlock had the best students…because they had the best teachers, coaches, tutors, and beyond?
What if everyone involved in guiding students in Turlock–from a homeschooling parent to a classroom teacher, a theater company, swim coach, or even karate teacher–had access to professional development that allowed them to put forward their best practices and reach students more effectively than ever before?
What if families could have a look at these conversations, contribute, and meet the people who are on the ground, teaching our students every day in real time, and be a part of the educational success of our city?
That’s the dream for the Village.
Whether you’re just joining, following along as we grow, or ready to add your voice to a growing Village, we’re glad you’re here.
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