How to Create a Classroom With Respect & Rapport
Dealing with students is not always easy for the classroom teacher. A class can easily get out of control or turn against the teacher if the proper relationship has not been solidified. Establishing a positive learning environment is important for students to learn, for a teacher to be successful and for development of respect within the classroom setting. Teachers need to take steps to foster a strong rapport with the students they teach.
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Instructions
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Establish rules for the class. Pick only rules that you feel are essential. Present the rules the first day of class, so students know what your expectations are and how to meet them. Include no more than five or six rules; you want to seem reasonable as a teacher, not unfair and demanding. Be firm about use of the facilities, calling out and getting up without permission.
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Get to know the students immediately. Learn names by the first week of school. Put a seating chart on a clipboard and call on the students by name. Play a few ice-breaker games to find out about the students to get a better assessment of the type of students you are teaching. Talk to students about their interests in the couple of minutes before class begins or right after it ends. If a student looks different, ask them a few questions and let them know you care. According to the Texas Tech Teaching, Learning and Technology Center, instructor communication in the classroom greatly affects student satisfaction and motivation, as well as organization, clarity and rapport.
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Be consistent. Treat students fairly. Do not make exceptions or apply a different set of rules depending on the student. If you give one student an extension, give all the students one. When students realize you are fair, they will respect you and not try to take advantage of you as well. Use consistency with planning as well. When students know what to expect, they will feel more comfortable. Let them know what is coming up during the week.
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Offer students extra help. Work with students one-on-one, so you can help them develop skills. By offering your time, students will trust you, and you can build more of a rapport by working with them individually. Vary the times you offer, so all students have an opportunity to seek help if they need it. You also could use lunch periods if your schedule is demanding.
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Use a sense of humor in the classroom. Make learning fun. Know when to incorporate a quick story or anecdote. Relate situations in life to what you are teaching about. All of these strategies will make you appear more human to your students. They will open up if you do so first.
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Tips & Warnings
Compliment your students when they are doing a good job; make them feel good about themselves when they deserve it.
Never humiliate a student in front of the entire class. Never communicate with students on social networks; establish firm boundaries and keep them.
