Teaching as Performance Art

I was writing in my journal today and wondering how people manage to teach full-time, because it is such an output of energy. I was also thinking about how uncomfortable having parents and other teachers around during class makes me, and that got me thinking about teaching as a kind of performance art. Recently, I read an internet comment from a non-dance teacher who said that she's not necessarily the same person outside of class as in, that she puts on her teacher persona and then takes it off when she leaves class. And yeah, I do that too.

Some of it is necessity. As a somewhat shy introvert who hates to be in the spotlight (well, figuratively--literal spotlights are just fine), I need to portray a calm, confident, professional front in class and be willing to speak. That is, after all, what I'm being paid for--to speak up and fix things that are going wrong.

But it's tiring, and sometimes I come in feeling rather quiet and without my "teacher face" on. The students' energy in those classes tends to be lower, which leaves me wondering, to what extent can a teacher be real with their students? Obviously, some things are not appropriate--they're students, not confidantes, professionalism is key.

Sometimes being honest feels warranted, though; perhaps an older student asks how you are after a tough week, and you say, "Well, it's been a rough week, TGIF!" or something along those lines. They're students, not dolls, and warm relationships sometimes develop. Not to mention that it's good for students to see that adults are people too, that they struggle with things, and that no one has it all together.

It also leaves me wondering about the effectiveness of various personality styles in the classroom. I'm sure we all know at least one person who's so charismatic they capture the room's attention without even trying. Some of us are just not like that though, and is it necessary to become like that? Sometimes, I think so, but always? Hm...

I'm very curious--fellow teachers, to what extent do you put on your teacher face before classes, and what kinds of situations do you take it off? And more importantly, do you feel you need one, and why?