Top 10 Ways to Become a Teacher's Pet
By Aimee Hosler | January 16th, 2012
Long gone are the days of shiny red apples. If you want to impress today's teachers, you are going to have to work for it. Building positive relationships with your professors may or may not garner sympathy on subjective assignments or grading curves, but it will likely win you valuable support and feedback. So, how do you earn your teacher's favor without becoming a Pollyanna? These top 10 ways to become a teacher's pet will help.
10 ways to impress your toughest professors
1. Be there!
Absence doesn't always make the heart grow fonder, especially when it robs you of valuable learning opportunities and much-needed face time with your professors.
2. Be on time.
Sleeping through half your class only to interrupt your teacher's lecture will certainly catch his or her attention, but for all the wrong reasons.
3. Get up close and personal.
Sit at the front of the class; not only does it show you're enthusiastic to learn, but it provides an excellent opportunity to chat with your professor now and again, separating you from the zombie masses sitting behind you.
4. Ask the right questions.
If showing up is half the battle, paying attention is the rest. Don't just mindlessly take notes--mull over the material and ask thoughtful questions. Your teacher will appreciate that you are taking your work (and his or her livelihood) seriously.
5. Be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
Professors aren't impressed by the back of your snazzy laptop (though students attending online colleges play by different rules). Show your teachers they have your attention by making eye contact, sitting up straight and taking notes the old fashioned way.
6. Do your homework.
You don't need to ace statistics to know you can't score solid grades (and positive attention) by skipping assignments.
7. Take advantage of office hours.
What better way to show your professors you take them seriously than to show them outside of the classroom? Office hours allow you to interact with your teachers, separating you from the crowd.
8. Stay the course.
Are you an English major struggling through Calculus? Don't drop the course halfway through, especially if you need it down the road. Let your professor know you are having difficulty and ask for some guidance--her or she will be impressed with your gumption.
9. Show you care.
Most people thrive on positive attention--isn't that why you are reading this post to begin with? Teachers are no exception. If you enjoyed a particular lecture of assignment, let your professor know!
10. Start off on the right foot.
Following all of these guidelines will be much easier if you actually enjoy your classes and teachers. Do yourself a favor and choose the right college or program at the beginning of your academic career.
Take it home
Part of becoming a teacher's pet is being a great student to begin with; these tips are useless if you do not follow through in the end. Why not genuinely become a star pupil? Stay motivated, get organized and avoid making the usual student mistakes. Your professors (and grades) will thank you.
