New teachers sometimes have difficulty knowing how to establish the right degree of distance between themselves and their students. Remember, it is not your job to be friends with your students. You've got to retain a professional distance that allows you to be friendly with your students while at the same time working toward earning their respect. The relationship your students most want from you is that of a comfortable distance where you are the respected adult and they are the student. It can be tempting to do things just to encourage students to like you. It's great if your students like you, but not at the expense of respecting you. If you are firm, fair, consistent and friendly with your students they will respect you, and from respecting you they will grow to like you. If you try too hard to be their friend without first earning their respect, it is very likely that you will experience problems when you try to enforce rules or discipline. It is better to start with more rules and loosen them later than it is to start with no discipline and try to add it later. Keep in mind that your students are watching you and looking to you for cues about your beliefs and values. Your behavior and the things you say will show them what you value. As the teacher, you are a role model both in and out of the classroom. It is important for your students to see that you have character and that you act on your principles. The following checklist can help you in remembering your relationship with your students.