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Universities in Sweden (Engdahl et al., 2022), there are four basic body postures:
wall-like, pin-like, ball-like, and screw-like (named The Wall, The Pin, The Ball, and
The Screw; see Figure). Everyone uses all four basic body postures daily. The Wall,
which is straight and broad and the most expansive body posture among the four,
signals strength and leadership and is a good choice for a teacher. However, one risks
being perceived as authoritarian and dominant when solely using grandiose space-
taking, as studies by Witkower et al. (2020) have indicated. On the other hand, when
adding an openness to The Wall through a slight expansion of the chest, one signals
knowledge and expertise. This subtle chest expansion can be achieved through
what in Swedish is called Glada Punkten (“The Happy Spot”), a concept coined by
speech therapist Kerstin Forsmark (1977). By slightly lifting the chest upwards and
forward or by consciously expanding the chest while inhaling, the speaker can find
The Happy Spot. Another exercise one can do to find this spot is imagining showing
off a gold medal hanging on one’s chest.

Figure

Illustrations of Four Key Body Postures

Note. Authors’ illustrations.
Moving Around in the Classroom
A teacher must be aware of where to position oneself in the classroom as well
as how to move and at what pace, because these movements will influence how the
teacher is viewed as a leader. At the beginning of a lesson, it is important to make an
active decision about where to stand to be heard and seen the best and to take a look
at the classroom to get acquainted with the physical space. When helping students,
a teacher needs to reflect upon how to approach them. One can, for example, lower
the body and turn the torso in the same direction as the student, avoiding leaning
over the desk or approaching the student from above. By doing so, the teacher helps
the student to focus on the task, signaling that the work is in focus, not the student
as a person (Steinberg, 2019). In this position, one needs to keep the openness, The
Happy Spot, and not reduce the expansion of the chest.
Furthermore, when moving around in the classroom, it is important to do so
without stress if one is to support a good learning environment. Staying a few extra

Promoting Professional and Personal Growth of Educators and Excellence in Education 11