Compliment the teacher before you start to complain, ask questions or offer suggestions. For example, during a parent-teacher conference, the Family Education website suggests that you let the teacher know how much your child trusts her or that you say something nice about a project the class recently did. This will help the teacher relax and open up more about how your child is really doing in class. This is important if you want more than the canned speech about how well your child is doing.
Work hard. Whether you are a student or parent, paying attention to what the teacher has to say in lectures and in notes written home is just as important as it is to earning her respect. If the teacher does not feel like you are putting your best foot forward and trying your best to listen to her, she will be less likely to give you an extra day to turn in the book order or offer tutoring if you are failing her class.
Participate in what is going on in class. Ask questions if you are a student. Look at the teacher, rather than your cell phone, during a lesson. Do a good job and turn in your work on time. If you are a parent, volunteer at the school or come to a play your child is in. Go to parent involvement and planning meetings at your child's school. A teacher is more likely to listen to your problems or complaints nicely if you show an interest in your child's projects and activities than if you do not have a clue as to what is going on in class.
Respect the teacher in every way. Complaining, whining, yelling and harassing will get you nowhere with the teacher. Simple words like "please" and "thank you" go a long way toward starting the process of giving respect. Remember that a teacher entered the profession most likely because she has a passion for educating young people. She has earned a college degree and passed a certification examination to get her teaching license. She is a professional who should be respected in her field, and she is to be respected as an individual as well. Even if you disagree with her, do so as patiently and respectfully as possible.