Educational Leadership & Technology

The fact of the matter is that the old cliche is absolutely true: smile and the world smiles with you, frown and you do it alone. Smiles are infectious; they spread rapidly and communicate positive energy. In addition, kids love to smile and laugh. Just watch some children for twenty minutes — they laugh, smile, enjoy, and play. In many ways adults can learn a lot from kids about life. Smile! I have made many students feel comfortable in my classroom by simply smiling. I’ve tried my best to make them feel comfortable even during discipline, which is about personal responsibility and accountability, not punishment, so there is no reason not to smile (when appropriate). In a book, the name alludes me, it was stated that most people possess average looks, but those that smile are perceived to be attractive and those that don’t are remembered as ugly. Pretty powerful thought, actually — something as simple as a smile could be the difference between being thought of as ugly or beautiful. Smiles convey a feelings of warmth, happiness, and joy that makes other people calm and relaxed. There really is no reason not to smile; especially if you work with people, because one of the best tools to use is to make other people feel comfortable. Also, on the sinister side, nothing makes a person who is trying to upset you more angry than a nice, genuine smile on your part.