The sense of hierarchy. Thus, the child enters school having been told by parents that teachers are authority figures. To show respect, they look at the floor when the teacher addresses them. Most teachers see this behavior as evasive and prefer students to look them straight in the eye, indicating honesty, trust, and interest in the class. In many seminars, students are encouraged to disagree with their teachers to show their individuality.
Some simple actions can help teachers work with the diverse students in their classrooms.
If parents speak only Spanish and you speak none, try to get a colleague who is bilingual to be on the line during your first phone call home. If a student won't look you in the eye during the first week of school, don't make a big deal of it in front of the class. Take a minute to ask the student about it privately. Find out as soon as possible which of your students is new to the area and may need some help in getting settled. Transiency often brings out the worst in people at any age.