Students have certain expectations about English class. The teacher talks alot. It’s a good idea to look pleasant , cooperative, and interested. If possible, sit in the back behind a tall student. Be sure to grab someone’s class notes. That attitude has to go!

What do students expect from their English teachers?

1. Quick feedback. Return tests and essays promptly.
2. Understanding assignments. Take part of or an entire class period to review the material. Find out what students don’t know and reteach. Use the Socratic method. Clarify your expectations–appropriate length of essays, for example.
3. Varied approaches. Vary your teaching technique via lecture, student reports, whole class discussion, graded discussion, short videos.
4. Build confidence. While grading tests, record excellent responses to certain questions and during test review, ask those students to read their reponses to the class. Praise their work.
5. Fairness. Students deserve a teacher who is fair. Explain a low grade. Always be prepared to discuss a poor grade with a disgruntled student. Sit down with him or her in order to compare a poorly written essay with a well-written one and perhaps an average essay (names marked out).  Ensure that he or she understands errors or inadequate responses.  Never play favorites. Ask questions of all students. One or two students should never dominate the class. Give many assignments during a given semester. Grades should not be determined on the basis of just a few assignments.
6. Challenge. Students enjoy and benefit from difficult material and concepts. Place high demands on them.
7. Interesting subject matter. Survey the class about the literature they have/have not enjoyed. Apply fictional characters’ behavior, decisions,  and so on to the attitudes of the class.
8. Constant review of material. Take time to frequently assess students’ understanding of the material via questions and reteaching. Start with the known and move to the unknown.

My overall goals were always to encourage a love of literature and to insist on good writing. Both goals can be achieved if one loves one’s subject and cares enough about each student to ensure they perform to the best of their ability.