Every teacher is different in how he or she manages a classroom, largely due to basic personality differences. Are you funny? Are you energetic? Are you calm and organized? Are you serious and studious? Are you easygoing or easily stressed? The atmosphere in your room will reflect these personality characteristics. Your classroom atmosphere is the tone you set with your personality, how you relate to your students, and the rules you set. New teachers are often so anxious to have their students like them that they have a hard time with discipline. Most likely when you thought about teaching you didn't give much thought to having to enforce rules. Keep in mind, that it is the nature of children to test your rules to see how far they can go. It's normal to be a little nervous in the beginning and to wonder if your students will like you. However, it's much more important to be respected by your students. If they feel that you are fair, that they understand what you expect of them, and that you're consistent with your rules, they will know how to act and respond in your classroom. Students will quickly size you up and will push you and test your limits, so it is important that, especially in the beginning, you are strong and consistent with rules. As your students learn that you cannot be manipulated, and where you draw the line, you will earn their respect. Remember, you are not there to be a friend to your students. You should be friendly but maintain the professional distance needed in the teacher/student relationship. You are a role model, and the leader of your classroom. Your job is to engender respect, to motivate your students to follow your lead, and to help them to learn and to grow. As your relationship with your students develops, they will like you for all of the same reasons that they respect you. Tips for establishing your own classroom atmosphere.