Which Students Do Teachers Like
Teachers do not get to choose which students will be in their classes. Even when they get the class they wanted, they are unable to select their preferred students for the class.
They’re responsible for each student in their class but that doesn’t mean they’re crazy about them all. While teachers try not to play favoritism, the truth is that teachers have favorites.
But which students do teachers like the most in their classes. Are there any particular kinds (personalities, background, etc.) of students teachers enjoy teaching? This article will present insight into feedback from instructors on their preferred kinds of students.
That said, it’s worth noting that each individual teacher may have their preference. This article merely elaborates on the most common points raised by teachers on the students they like in their classes.
Which Students Do Teachers Like
Ideally, teachers would like all their students but you sometimes meet a student who seems to go the extra mile to annoy their teachers. So which students do teachers like?
Students Who Pay Attention
Teachers go through a lot of trouble to prepare lesson notes for their students. From trying to simplify concepts to identifying examples their students can better relate to, teachers put a lot of effort into preparing lessons for their students.
It’s easy to understand why a teacher might end up liking a student who pays attention to ongoing lessons. While it may be indirect, students who pay attention to the teacher and the ongoing lesson show appreciation for the teacher’s effort and time.
These students don’t even need to be the best in class, but simply showing appreciation for the teacher’s effort and time can make a teacher like them as their students. Whether quiet students or loud students, teachers are bound to like such students so long as they pay attention in class.
Students Who Ask Relevant Questions
Asking questions in class conveys your interest in wanting to better understand something. Teachers do not know everything even when they have years of experience in an area, there’re things they may not know.
While the teacher may have an answer to the student’s question in most cases, they sometimes miss including some key points when planning lessons. Students who pay attention during lessons can ask these questions, enabling the teacher to improve the lesson.
Additionally, students occasionally ask questions teachers may not have an answer to. This encourages teachers to research more on a topic to gain additional insight. While teachers are there to teach, learning is a continual process even for teachers who can also learn from their students.
That said, simply asking questions unrelated to the subject matter can be annoying. It becomes evident to the teacher that the student may not be paying attention. Asking a question someone may have asked already would also so that you may not have been paying attention.
I remember a student when I was in school who’d always sleep in class and simply wake up to ask a question. What annoyed the teachers most of the time was the fact that these questions had little to nothing to do with the subject matter.
Students Willing To Help Others Understand
Sometimes students may be having a hard time understanding something a teacher taught them. Students who might have a better understanding of these concepts may readily offer to help others.
This can be helpful as they might be able to get points across to other students easier since they would better relate the concept in language and terms their peers would better understand. Although, being a good student may make teachers like you but teachers love students willing to help their peers.
Students Who Put In The Effort
You don’t need to be the best student in the school for a teacher to like you. Teachers like students who put in the effort to complete every assignment. It doesn’t even matter if they’re producing the best result but that they’re putting in the effort.
The teacher would be willing to put in the effort to also help such students when they’re struggling academically. They would try their best to help the student meet their goals so long as the student is putting in the effort to accomplish said goals.
Even when they don’t do well on an assignment, they try to reach out to the teacher to help them better understand what they could have done better. They’re actively working to improve themselves and take failure as an opportunity to learn more.
Respectful Students
Respect is foundational in the development and maintenance of a healthy learning environment. It allows room for the growth of trust and learning in any academic environment.
Students are taught to be respectful both at school and by their parents at home. Unfortunately, not everyone takes their teacher or parent’s advice on being respectful to their teachers and their peers.
Teachers like students who are respectful not only to the teachers but also to their peers both inside and outside the classroom.
Students Who Are Critical Thinkers
Teachers expect their students to be critical thinkers and they sometimes give out tests to foster this trait in students. Some outstanding students can identify innovative or unconventional solutions to problems presented by teachers.
Teachers love such students as they show critical thinking even in situations where their peers take conventional approaches. This doesn’t mean these students are lazy but leverage unconventional approaches to problem-solving.
Which Students Do Teachers Dislike
We created a comprehensive article on the kind of students teachers dislike and why they dislike them. Check out this article to find out more.
How Do You Tell If A Teacher Likes You As A Student
Now that we understand which students teachers like, let’s take a look at how to tell if a teacher likes you as a student.
Friendly Towards You
If your teacher is friendly towards you, they probably like interacting with you as a student. Reasons for this could range from your seriousness about your education to how insightful you can be as a student on certain topics.
Ask About Your Personal Life
While this point may be controversial, it’s undeniable that a teacher who likes a student (as a student) may want to know more about them. A teacher could be interested in knowing more about a good student who always arrives late to school.
They may want to know more about a good student whom they might have noticed having some financial challenges. Finding out more about such students would enable them to provide them with the necessary support. They may be able to recommend the student for some form of scholarship or something else to help them academically.
Often Interact With The Student
When a teacher readily interacts with a student often, it may be a sign that they like that student (as a student). They may ask you directly whether you understood a concept they just explained.
They’re genuinely interested in your progress and want to make sure you have a clear understanding of the subject matter before proceeding with the lesson.
Compliment You
They compliment you when you provide a good answer to a question they ask in class or on an assignment. Keep in mind that this could be rare as most teachers would refrain from only complimenting students they might like.
They Expect More
When a teacher likes you as a student, they might poke fun at you when you provide a simple answer to a question they asked. They believe you can do much better than the answer you provided and would expect more from you.
