And, finally, a list of 10 things you may be doing that are undermining your efforts to manage your classroom effectively. Writing for Middleweb, which supports middle-years teachers, Jennifer Gonazalez says, for example, you should be careful not to smile at the wrong times, such as when a student gets you off-track with a humorous remark. Other common mistakes include, “Handling problems publicly,” “Staying up Front,” instead of moving around the classroom and “Taking things personally.” Her technique for handling the latter is worth quoting: “Alternative: A mental trick I used to help me step away from those hurt feelings was to think of myself as a service provider – like a dentist – and my students as patients. If my patient got a cavity, I would treat it as best I could, but I wouldn’t take it personally. If things don’t always go well, it doesn’t have to be about me.”