One of the most important factors in ensuring your student will become a productive, well-rounded member of society is to treat them with respect from the beginning.
Treating students with respect doesn’t just mean rewarding good behavior or punishing bad behavior.
It means giving them the tools they need to be successful and teaching them how to treat others well as well.
Teaching students to be respectful can begin when they are toddlers, but it can also be reinforced at any time in life, even into adulthood.
Below you will find seven ways to show your student respect and encourage them to grow into a respected adult.
1) Acknowledge Them As An Individual
Take the time to learn their name, find out what they like and do not like, and ask them about themselves.
Keep in mind that they are a person and have thoughts, feelings, and ideas of their own.
The more you know your student as an individual, the better you can help them succeed academically.
They will also feel more comfortable with you.
✓ Be aware: Be aware of what is going on in their life outside of school and try to address any issues that arise as soon as possible.
✓ Encourage: Encourage them when they are doing well but be ready to offer assistance when needed. Offer feedback when necessary, but make sure it is constructive so students do not get discouraged.
It is important for students to feel comfortable speaking up if something is bothering them because this may be the first step towards getting help.
2) Listen To Them
One way to show your student respect is by listening. In order to show that you are listening, you should make sure you are really paying attention and asking follow-up questions.
You also want to try your best not to interrupt them or talk over them if they start telling a story.
It can be easy for students to feel like their voice doesn’t matter because people don’t listen to them.
It’s important for teachers to remember this and listen as much as possible.
If the student feels like they have been heard, it will help build the relationship between the two of you and increase their trust in you.
Not only will this help create a better relationship with your students but it will also help with classroom management issues down the road.
3) Validate Their Feelings
When your student feels like they are being disrespected, it may cause them to feel discouraged and unmotivated.
So, take a step back and validate their feelings before you continue the conversation.
Let them know that you hear them, that you care about their thoughts, and that you want to work together with them.
Let’s say you wanted to talk about an upcoming assignment.
You could say It sounds like this assignment is tough for you, or
Can we brainstorm some different strategies? or How can I help make this easier for you?
What other way can I show my student respect?
4) Encourage Them To Seek Help
The best way you can show your student respect is by encouraging them to seek out help when they need it.
Whether it’s for emotional support, academic assistance, or mental health counseling, there are many people on campus who are here for them.
You should always be available to listen if they want to talk about what’s going on in their lives, and try not to dismiss the idea of counseling too quickly.
Asking them questions about what is going on and how you can help shows that you care.
Allowing them to make their own choices shows that you value self-determination.
It is important to know what resources are available on campus so you can refer students as needed.
5) Follow Through With Your Promises
It’s one thing to say you’ll do something, but it’s another thing to follow through with it.
Keeping your word and following through with your promises are ways you can show your student respect.
When you have a meeting or talk with your student, tell them exactly what time and where the meeting will be.
If there is something that might cause you not to be able to make the commitment, then let them know ahead of time so they have an opportunity to plan accordingly.
Also, if someone else from your department says they’re going to take care of something for your student, please make sure you inform them about this commitment.
When we don’t do what we said we would and don’t communicate our reasons for changing our minds, it feels like you’re giving up on us or didn’t care about what was important in the first place.
6) Apologize When You’re Wrong
Mistakes are a natural part of learning, but they can also be embarrassing.
When you realize that you have made a mistake, it is important that you apologize and ask for help if needed.
Remember, it is okay to be wrong sometimes. If your student apologizes when they make a mistake, then give them a hug or high five.
Another way to show your student respect is by using their name when you speak with them in class.
The last way that I will mention today is by giving positive feedback on what the student did correctly during the activity as well as telling them about their strengths.
These are just some ways on how to show your students respect in the classroom!
7) Thank Them
One of the most important things you can do for your student is thank them.
Thank them for volunteering, thank them for coming to class, thank their parents for their commitment.
It’s so easy to forget the effort and time that goes into being a student, which can lead to frustration and disengagement on the part of the student.
A simple thank you can go a long way! And don’t forget to say thanks at the end of each session.
Check in with your students often, and send updates if there are any changes or upcoming dates they should be aware of (e.g., there is no school Friday because it’s Good Friday).
If a meeting doesn’t work out as planned, be proactive about rescheduling or following up with an email to let them know what happened or what will happen next.
