The Secret of Professionalism- Kamie Crum

Through my student teaching experiences, I feel like I have demonstrated professionalism in and out of the classroom.  My last co-op would always say that we are the only "parents" these students have.  That really sticks with me and makes me think that like chapter five talked about how there are hundreds of role-model-seeking students and we could be their role models.  If we are their only "role models"  like in my past school, then I want to set a good example and make decisions that are best for my students.
One point that will help me improve my professionalism as an educator is to not get involved in the "lunchroom" talk.  Through my experiences I have heard a variety of topics in the lunch room and teachers talk about students.  I think that students lives should be private  unless other paraprofessionals are involved in the matter and like I said in the previous paragraph, you are their role models and you need to make sure that you have that trust with your students or you could lose all control of them or your classroom.
Another point that will help me improve my professionalism as an educator is to not take student behavior personally.  In my new placement there is a variety of behavior problems that go on daily.  A lot of the students cannot control their behavior and if they know that it bothers you then once again you have lost all control.  Like the book said, you need to smile through the pain and not lose control of your own emotions.  Also, the book said you should hold everything in and take it out on your spouse when you get home, this statement made me laugh because sometimes I feel like I do just this.  I hold all my anger in and take it out on my boyfriend because a lot of students just hear negativity and I as an educator I promised myself that I will not bring that into my classroom.  I want a positive and warm environment where students can feel safe.
After reading this chapter on professionalism I now have a different viewpoint on professionalism in and out of school.  When I heard professionalism I use to only think about how you should dress and how you should handle behavior but it is more than that.  Being a teacher there is a lot of responsibility and I as a future educator I need to grasp control and never stop growing professionally.
"If you make decisions based on children you teach, mountains they will climb for you; stars they will reach!"- Every student is capable of reaching the stars, it just takes that extra ordinary person to help them realize that and I hope I can be that person.