Dear Tawna, Mike, Ruthie, Josh, Mom and other Parents and Educational Professionals in my life.

As a teacher, do you expect all your students to conform in the same way? Take this example for instance:

You tell your students to finish working on their spelling sheet, put it away and then come sit down on the rug. You are ready to move onto reading time.

Jamie does exactly what you ask, in that instant. She is the first one to the rug.
Phil finishes his sheet, but forgets to put it away and then makes his way over to the rug.
Heidi realizes she's forgotten to put her name on her spelling sheet so she takes her time doing that, then puts her paper away and proceeds to the rug.

As a teacher do you get frustrated by Phil and Heidi's lack of response time and expect them to react just as Jamie has? Do you praise Jamie and punish Phil and Heidi, or just either or? Or do you expect that each child will come and do what you have asked, they just have a different means of getting there? Is each child in the classroom expected to react the same as the next? Is this principle strictly observed in a school setting? Does this type of classroom management work, and is it vital to a learning atmosphere for each student and an organized classroom for the teacher?

I ask this because I try to never lump individuals into a category. I believe in individuality in any given circumstance. As a mother, you are forced to deal with it, and let each of your individual children be who they are. In so doing, I wonder if instead of wanting my children to conform, I have accepted them for how they are and thus, how they react, as long as they are doing right and making good choices.

For instance:
I say Aspen, Liberty we need to go. Please get your shoes on and head out to the car.
They both go and get their shoes, each with a different speed, but none the less, they do it. Aspen grabs a snack before heading out to the car, and Liberty goes directly out. Both of them achieve the goal I set for them, just in a different manner. Should I be forcing Aspen to conform to exactly how I asked her to do what I have asked?

I'm honestly asking these questions and I'm interested in your personal and professional answers. Thank you!