12 Rules of Supervision

By theteachersdevotionalDecember 14, 2021

Top Qualities of an Effective and Dedicated Principal

Core scripture: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” (Colossians 3:23)

Message: I am beginning to chomp at the bit. Ten days of quarantine will do that to a man. I have had my fill of Netflix, reading, and catching up on busy work around the house. Tomorrow I will be back to doing what the Lord created me to do, and it begins with supervision duty at 7:30 am outside the pool doors.

How do you treat supervision duty? We all have it. Are you just a warm body mumbling the same, “Good morning,” to each kid that passes by? Or do you create intentional moments, interacting uniquely with students? We have all heard of the 12 Days of Christmas song. Well, here are the 12 Rules of Supervision.

Smile. Every kid deserves to be greeted by a smile when they come to school. Smile at a student, and it is only natural for them to smile back.
Mix up your greeting. Get creative! There are countless different ways you can greet students. Pull out your best Irish accent and say, “Top of the morning to ya!” Or put on your best gameshow host voice and say, “Welcome to the best middle school this side of Blackbob Road!”
Use a prop. I enjoy bringing props out to supervision. Like a nerf football to toss at a kid or my wooden sword to knight someone as they stroll by. It makes kids feel special.
Get your fist bump on. There is nothing that makes a kid feel important like a fist bump or a high five. Some teachers even go to the extent of creating a secret handshake for each student. Check out the video application below!
Play music. Music energizes, and if you find the perfect mix, it can power you through a morning. Next thing you know, you are grooving, singing, and providing entertainment for the kids as they enter school.
Tell a joke. Get the kids laughing as they walk past you. Keep them clean. Here is a list of 200 Dad Jokes to get you started: https://www.menshealth.com/trending-news/a34437277/best-dad-jokes/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=arb_ga_mnh_d_bm_a34437277&gclid=Cj0KCQiAnuGNBhCPARIsACbnLzp8itGr386Romf3ojiamg0Z6tuLMLCoJKIncE5YPLzGWx4dT9hW7qsaAsjHEALw_wcB.
Make connections. Find that football player wearing their jersey and ask how their game was yesterday. Wish a cheerleader good luck in her upcoming competition. Kids love it when you take an interest in their extra-curricular activities.
Compliment their attire. Whether it be a new Chiefs shirt, an adorable dress, or even the latest cool tennis shoes, kids love being complimented on their clothing. Make them feel special as they walk by.
Hold the door. Your parents taught you manners, didn’t they? Model a bit of chivalry for the younger generation to see. It is the polite thing to do!
Wave. This is an easy one. I wave all the time on supervision duty. Wave at parents dropping kids off. Wave at students as they walk past you. A friendly wave creates warmness and friendliness.
Laugh. When you find reasons to laugh, others will laugh with you. Every kid should feel so special that they get a laugh from you as they pass through.
Do it all for the Lord. If you greet students enthusiastically, the Lord will be glorified. Make Him proud of you, and allow Him to use you.

I cannot wait until 7:30 am tomorrow morning! Those kids are going to get my best, and I want to return with passion, gusto, and purpose.

Challenge: Live your life at work this final week before Christmas break with purpose. Make every kid feel special in their own unique way.

Prayer points: Lift up the following areas to the Lord …

Praise God for the opportunity to be a positive influence on our students.
Pray that Christian teachers can work with joy in their hearts for the Lord.

Video application: This video from a Charlotte teacher shows how greeting students enthusiastically with a secret handshake can make someone’s day.