Students often have trouble at school due to their problematic reputation at school and a lack of understanding from their teachers. The teacher-student equation is often fraught with tension and confrontation as the teacher is in an obvious position of authority and students have a natural tendency to rebel against authority.
However, if you want to enjoy an easier time at school, find ways to build a rapport with your teacher instead of antagonizing them.
Top tips to help you develop a good working relationship with your teacher:
- Demonstrate good behaviour:
- Teachers always appreciate well-behaved Be polite and respectful to your teacher and peers at all times. Be obedient in class and follow instructions to the best of your abilities.
- Don’t talk to your classmates in the middle of a lesson. Avoid pranking teachers, passing notes, giggling or any form of rowdy behaviour. Once you develop a reputation as a troublemaker, your teachers will automatically be wary of you.
- Speak only when ask to do so by your teacher. Avoid interrupting the class with questions out of turn.
- Don’t talk back to your teacher if you’re reprimanded. You don’t want to come across as hostile or brazen. Exercise restraint even if the teacher in question is unnecessarily rude or mean.
- Pay attention:
- Students often get told off for not paying attention in class. Try to focus and pay attention to your lessons.
- Don’t daydream through half the lesson and then interrupt class trying to catch up.
- Be alert and attentive. Ask pertinent questions in order to clear your doubts.
- Maintain eye contact with your teacher and display good body language.
- Don’t text, keep looking at the clock or fall asleep in class. Not only is that disrespectful, but it also demonstrates your lack of interest in the subject material and demotivates your teacher.
- Participate in class discussions:
- Teachers require a response from students in order to understand that they are getting through to them.
- Engage in class discussions and respond in class when teachers ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or to respond to questions.
- Participate in class discussions. This makes a good impression on the teacher who recognizes that you have paid attention to the lesson and put in an effort to understand the material.
- If you do badly on an exam, you may not be reprimanded quite as much as your classmates because your teacher will recognize you as a sincere student who had an off day instead of a student who doesn’t put in an effort.
- Prepare for your lessons:
- Always prepare for your lessons. Complete any recommended reading and look up the background for every lesson beforehand so that you are not blank in class.
- Carry your textbooks, notebooks and stationery to class. Ensure that you have everything you need before class so that you don’t have to interrupt the class in order to borrow any resource material or stationery.
- Take down important points in a notebook but don’t keep asking the teacher to repeat facts and figures for you to take down.
- Review your class notes before and after the lesson so that you are up to date with the topics being covered in class.
- Study independently and conduct your own research with the help of the internet or the library so that you are prepared for any impromptu class assignment, pop quiz or class test.
- Try these tips on things to look after before starting on your homework to understand how you can be more prepared for class.
- Be regular and punctual:
- Attend classes regularly. Don’t play truant and bunk class unnecessarily. Do not to miss classes and keep your teacher informed if you are unable to attend classes.
- Try to make up for our absence by working hard at home, taking down class notes and completing any projects or assignments that you might have missed.
- Don’t be late to class and turn in your homework on time. Late submissions and poor work that is done last minute, makes a bad impression on teachers.
- If you’re normally very forgetful, develop a homework schedule or use a planner to keep track of your assignments and deadlines to ensure that you don’t get into trouble at school. Complete your work ahead of time if possible and always remember to bring it into class on the day that it is due.
- Remember that if you’re usually punctual and regular, you may easily be excused if you’re late for class on one or two occasions. Similarly, if you’re unable to complete a homework assignment on time and request an extension on your deadline, your teacher may excuse you. However, this will cease to be effective if you make it a habit.
- Be observant:
- If you really want to develop a rapport with your teacher, you need to be observant and try to understand her preferences. Understand her teaching style and always follow instructions.
- If you observe carefully, you will find that most teachers have a distinct teaching style and a lesson plan.
- Some prefer to teach first and then have students ask questions. Others prefer a more interactive teaching style when students are encouraged to ask questions and contribute to the lesson throughout the class.
- Some teachers encourage feedback in the form of worksheets while others assign homework. Once you understand what your teacher prefers, try to cooperate with her completely in class.
- You may also attempt to develop a more personal rapport with your teacher if you find that you share any common interests or if you engage her in casual conversation outside class. It is perfectly appropriate to engage your teachers in friendly conversation outside of class as long as you understand and respect their boundaries and don’t get too familiar.
- Demonstrate a positive attitude:
- Teachers recognize and appreciate students who demonstrate a good attitude in school. Work hard and be sincere and your teachers will notice you.
- Teachers appreciate effort more than your marks. Work diligently and sincerely even on subjects you do not take an interest in. Take on extra credit assignments and group projects wherever possible.
- Be honest with your teachers. If you have missed classes or are struggling with an immediate deadline, speak to your teachers. Don’t come up with silly excuses and lie. Own up to your mistakes and find ways to make up for them.
- Be helpful and encouraging of your peers and demonstrate an eagerness to learn and help out at the same time. Be sensitive to the needs of your classmates and demonstrate a good work ethic in group projects.
- Be proactive and offer to help out in class or tutor your classmates. Volunteer for school activities and take an interest in voluntary projects and initiatives.
- Not only will such an attitude please your teachers, but it will also improve your reputation in school and may even get you selected into the student’s council.
- Don’t be a sycophant:
- Don’t go too far when trying to befriend your teacher. Understand the boundaries of a teacher- student relationship.
- Don’t get too personal or be inappropriate. For instance, you may want to pay a teacher a compliment, but a personal remark about their appearance may not be appropriate. You don’t want to make your teacher feel uncomfortable.
- When you engage your teachers in conversation, be respectful of their schedule. Don’t try to talk to them when they are busy or interrupt class in order to have a personal conversation.
- While you may have a personal rapport with your teacher, keep it outside the classroom.
With these tips in mind, you should have no trouble developing an excellent working relationship with your teacher.