Get to know your students as individuals. Ask questions about their interests and their home life. Hold short conferences throughout the school year to check in on how your students are doing. Eat lunch with students or find time to chat with them between activities. Write short notes to your students to praise them for their academic successes, or to wish them luck on upcoming events, and encourage students to write back. The more you know about your students, the more you will understand about their behavior and work in the classroom. In addition, building a relationship with your students will make them feel more comfortable coming to you when they have problems, both academic and personal.
Avoid negativity in your classroom, and make your classroom a positive place to learn. Stay positive when giving instructions, lecturing and answering student questions. When students in your class misbehave, acknowledge that misbehavior but do not dwell on it. Give your students a chance to change their behavior, and be positive about their ability to change. When grading students, try to give positive feedback along with the negative.
Show your students the same respect you demand in the classroom. Be courteous and polite when greeting your students in the classroom or around the school. When speaking with a student, stop what you are doing and address the student directly. When asking questions during class time, give your student time to respond before assuming he does not know the correct answer. Do not embarrass students in front of their classmates; instead, find time to speak to that student in private if there is a problem.
Be a good listener. Show students that you are listening and that what they have to say is important by giving them your full attention. Avoid multitasking when students are talking to you. Let your student finish speaking before you respond; do not interrupt. Avoid giving criticism or placing blame until a student has finished speaking. If a student is in trouble, give her a chance to explain her misbehavior or poor academic performance before doling out punishment.