Rapport
I think rapport with students is the most important factor when teaching. Even if the content isn't great or if the course is poorly organized, students can get a lot out of a class that has an instructor that demonstrates this ability.
Jeremiah,
I would agree with you on the importance of creating rapport with your students. It starts from day 1 with building a positive classroom community and creating a culture in the room that supports the right atmosphere for learning. Making it a point to learn their names and be "in relationship" with them can be that little thing that adds value to the process and therefore allows you more opportunity to reach students who may not be so engaged from the start naturally.
Thank you both for identifying these keys to success. This is an opportunity for me at times and I am always looking to improve.
Jeremiah,
Earning student respect sets the stage for rapport development. It is such a great feeling to know you have engaged students with whom you share the common goal of learning about a specific topic. Makes teaching a lot of fun.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Gaining a good rapport is not just about a student who shows respect in your class, but may come to you later the semester and asks for more help. Working at a trade school this is easy because students are in the same building. So when a student needs help, and does not have a good rapport with the instructors they currently have, they will ask you for advise.
Justin,
Rapport to me is one of the rewards of being a teacher. I work to earn the respect of my students and then concentrate on developing rapport with them. With rapport I can help them learn new knowledge and skills while moving closer to their career goals.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Rapport develops honest and open lines of communication with your students,a trust between student and teacher leads to a more positive classroom experience .
LARRY,
Yes it does. Earning the respect of your students and developing rapport with them is what helps us to manage the knowledge growth of our students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think that rapport with students is a must. If not, failure is inevitable, students will "zone out" and not focus on the material
Kristine,
Earning student respect and then developing rapport with them builds a foundation upon which learning can occur and career growth be experienced.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree. When the student understands you care enough to learn their name and a little bit about them, they will no longer feel like just another face in the crowd, but a valued being. They will be much more likely to come with questions or suggestions.
Terri,
So true and so important. You have moved them from being an enrolled number to a human being and that earns their respect and starts the development of rapport.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
i know this to be true because once you have built the rapport with your students that knocks a big wall down that helps you be able to reach them better through trust and resppect.
Troy,
Yes it does and it makes class management a lot easier because the students are engaged and focused in terms of the course content and what it can do to help them with their future plans.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree with you regarding trust and acceptance. Fortunately it goes both ways. If we have established rapport and mutual respect, then the students seem more forgiving if I don't have every answer to every question at my finger tips.
Edward,
This is a very good point for instructors to remember. Mutual respect is a powerful tool to be used by both the students and the instructor as they develop rapport with each other.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
