Be Considerate
Teachers genuinely want to help you, and itâs part of their job, so donât worry that youâre being a nuisance by approaching them outside of class. However, teachers are also super busy, so you want to show that youâre being considerate of their time. After saying hello, ask them if they have time to talk. If not, ask when would be a better time and make a point of putting it in your planner so you donât forget to meet the teacher at that time.
Ask Specific Questions
In order to make the most of the time you spend meeting a teacher, go in with specific questions you want to ask. Itâs hard to help someone who canât explain what they need help with. If you come in saying, âI just donât get math!â your teacher really doesnât know where to begin. Instead, you can bring in a problem that you got wrong on a recent quiz and ask them to walk you through where you went wrong. If itâs a class like history or English, instead of saying, âHow can I make my essay better?â you could ask, âHow can I improve my organization of ideas since thatâs where I always score lowest on my essays.â In short, you should brainstorm specific questions to ask the teacher before you meet with him or her.
Keep Your Email Communications Professional
If youâd rather email your teacher instead of speaking to him or her in person, go ahead. Just make sure that your email is professional and appropriate. Like a formal letter, an email should start with a salutation, followed by an explanation of why you are writing, and end with a closing and your name. Using correct punctuation and spelling will also go a long way toward showing your teacher that you take your schoolwork seriously. Want another tip? Youâre more likely to get a quick response if you use a specific subject line like âQuestion about Jane Eyre essayâ rather than something generic like âHelp!â Even so, donât expect teachers to be sitting by their screens at midnight ready to reply to last-minute requests. Plan on waiting a minimum of 24 hours for the teacherâs reply.
Be Proactive
Speaking of timing, itâs best to ask for help when you first realize that youâre struggling with something, not after youâve already gotten a poor grade on your report card or final exam. Be proactive about seeking out help from a teacher or tutor as soon as you feel like youâre falling behind.
Be Honest
Letâs say you know youâre not going to be able to finish a paper or other assignment by the due date. You can approach the teacher in advance in a positive and respectful manner, explain why you wonât be able to meet the deadline and ask for an extension. Often, teachers will grant your request, and theyâll be more likely to be forgiving if you are honest and upfront. Just remember to thank them for the extension, and if they say no, thank them for considering.
Respect Your Teacherâs Decisions
If feel you didnât get the grade on a paper or test that you should have, itâs fine to approach the teacher to ask for an explanation. However, instead of going into the conversation ready for an argument, try asking how you could have improved your work to get a better grade. Sometimes teachers will rethink a grade and change it; other times, they wonât. Whatever happens, use this as a learning opportunity. Your willingness to have a mature conversation will show great character.
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I know this is a lot but I hope this helps!
