From what I can remember, facial expressions and body language were hardly touched upon during my teacher training. The focus was more on lesson planning, behaviour management and simply how to get through an hour’s lesson.

And once I was in my own classroom, I was more concerned about being observed myself than I was about observing my pupils. 

But I think that facial expressions are something that we need to pay a lot more conscious attention to. Here’s why.

1. It helps with behaviour management

There is always straightforward body language you can read right away. Take, for example, when students enter the classroom. The students who smile, make eye contact and greet me with “Hi, Miss!” are probably happy, ready to learn and, dare I say it, excited about my lesson.

However, the ones who barge in, ignore the starter worksheet I’m handing out at the door and rush straight to their seats to steal their mate’s pencil case are probably not so ready to learn. Cue behaviour management tips.

2. Expressions offer subtle clues about understanding

When I give instructions to a class, I want my students to face me, with their ears open - metaphorically of course - and mouths closed, not turning around and making eye contact with their peers.

But I’m also looking for more than just that. A furrowed brow from one student might tell me they are sufficiently challenged, whereas from another I know it’s a sign that they are feeling overwhelmed. As time passes, looking for these tiny signals enables me to adapt or reword as necessary.

3. You can spot signs of a serious problem

Reading faces is not always easy. There are times when I spot sad, angry, tearful or tired faces. It might be a student who needs some wellbeing or mental health support; it might be an angsty teen needing some space after a run-in with another teacher; it might be a child for whom you have to do a safeguarding referral.

This is why it is our duty to be observant. We have to notice the little things.

4. It makes it easier to reach every learner

But what about the blank faces? There will be students who don’t smile, who don’t laugh, who don’t respond very often, if at all. Are those students learning? Are they even listening?

The latter was a question I asked myself a lot during lockdown because ultimately, all students were blank faces; they were at home and, in most cases, with their cameras off. 3D student faces became 2D student photos.

Now we’re back in the classroom, those students can be reached more easily. Spend more time speaking to them about their learning, and let them tell you their preferred way to communicate.

The joy of in-person communication

Indeed, those frustrations that we have endured over the last 18 months have really brought how much we rely on facial expressions and body language in the classroom.

Over lockdown, I missed the looks of shock and surprise at the end of the class novel, the lightbulb moments when a student finally gets it, the student with their hand up who is so desperate to answer they look like they might explode. I missed every single laugh at every single class joke.

Because at the end of the day, nothing beats face-to-face teaching.

Alice Anderson-Bonner is assistant head of Year 11 at The Priory School in Hertfordshire