How to Build a Strong Student-Teacher Relationship in High School
Teachers are more than just the people responsible for assigning grades. They can be an incredible resource for students, particularly in the last two years of high school as you start thinking about applying to college. This is why building a strong student-teacher relationship is key.
But just like you can’t learn piano overnight, you can’t establish a meaningful student-teacher relationship in a short period of time. Rather, you must build it slowly and consistently, so when the time comes when you need help from your teacher (for, say, a college letter of recommendation), the response is genuine. If you’re not convinced yet about chatting up your teacher, consider these potential benefits that could result from a good rapport with your teacher:
Letters of recommendation: Whether it’s for college, a job, an internship, or a summer program, every student will need a recommendation at some point. These letters are considered an important aspect of any application process. In just a few months your recommenders will upload their letters to the Common App. So make sure to keep building a strong student-teacher relationship now.
- Gateway to additional educational and professional opportunities: Teachers often have their own professional and academic network that they are willing to share with students they admire.
- Improved academic performance: Having a good student-teacher relationship with a teacher can lead you to feel comfortable asking for additional help or exploring a subject more deeply.
- Friendship and mentorship: Outside of the classroom, a teacher is a person, too. Think of them as another adult in your life with their own expertise and life path that could be a great source of advice for you.
Even if you’re a top-performing student, though, your teacher might still not know you well enough to write an effective letter of recommendation. It is up to you, the student, to put in the extra effort to build a positive relationship with your teacher. Here are some tips on getting started:
- DO start now. Make small, consistent efforts now and the benefits mentioned above will come naturally when building a student-teacher relationship. Think of the “big ask” for letters of recommendation as the top of the mountain. You can either start now and take upward steps over a year, or do nothing and try to climb up in one day (the latter never yields good results).
- DO become a proactive member in the class. This means going beyond the baseline of doing the homework and showing up on time. Show a genuine interest in the subject, ask meaningful questions, and contribute to class discussions.
- DO make use of a teacher’s office hours. It’s a lot easier for a teacher to remember and get to know you when you take the initiative to go see them outside of class. Use this time to get additional help (if needed), discuss how you’re doing in class, or even ask for career and educational advice.
- DON’T disrespect a teacher’s time. This point can be applied several ways. While occasionally lingering after class to discuss an assignment is fine, showing up everyday to a teacher’s office to discuss every college in the U.S. that offers an engineering major is not. If asking for a letter of recommendation, leave plenty of time for the teacher to draft an effective recommendation (about 2 months).
Other than parents, teachers are often the most common adult presence in a student’s life. So might as well make the most of the situation and get along with them! Building a strong student-teacher relationship in high school will inevitably make the college letter of recommendation process run more smoothly. But, you’ll hopefully also be able to gain a valuable mentor out of the process as well. Finally, always always make sure you thank your teachers for their ongoing support.
