Students also have major expectations concerning you and their class. They expect you to be in control at all times, and to be fair and consistent. They also expect that what you will be teaching is pertinent to their lives. Make sure that you strive to live up to your students' expectations as much as possible.

Fairness and Consistency

As discussed, fairness and consistency are two of the most important ingredients to being an effective teacher. When students perceive you as unfair, they will be less likely to listen and less likely to succeed. Remember, students watch every move you make, and they are very perceptive at picking up your prejudices. Make a concerted effort to be fair among all students and consistent from day to day.

Fairness and consistency might be two different terms, but they go hand in hand while teaching. To be fair means to take each person into equal consideration. To be consistent means to treat students the same at all times. One cannot truly exist without the other.

Keeping It Real

Education is about preparing students for their future. You will find that your students will be the most engaged when they feel intimately affected by the information you present. Therefore, you should give some thought to explaining the significance and importance of each of the lessons you complete in class.

This does not mean that you should throw out all lessons that are not going to have direct bearings on your students' lives. Instead, it means that you need to make the connections for your students, especially if they are not obvious. These connections can make a huge difference in student learning.