How to Favorably Impress the Instructoradapted from an article by Jerry Clavner (Social Sciences :CuyahogaCommunity College)

REMEMBER this Equation: Good Impressions = Better Grades

  • Be early to class – Find a seat from which you can see & be seen. Avoid sitting way in the back unless it is the only seat left.
  • Get supplies out: pencils, notebooks & review notes from the last class. Get your homework out; ready to be corrected.
  • Smileat the instructor (it makes them feel wanted & appreciated) at fellow students. Use the proper form of address for theinstructor such as“Dr.” or “Professor”.However an instructor introduces themselves to the class is the way they prefer to be addressed. NEVER call the professor by their 1st name unless you were instructed to do so.
  • Be respectfuland polite. Stop talking with classmates when it’s apparent that class is about to begin.
  • Be prepared. Read material before the lecture & do homework. If work is to be handed in, have it ready, properly labeled and stapled if needed.
  • Keep up with classwork. Do homework when it is due. Turn in assignments on time.To reallyimpress the professor, turn items

in earlyif allowed. “Due dates” are just that – dates when work is due, not vague dates you can hit or miss by a few days.

  • Write down all items problems the instructor puts on the board – these are ones they feel are important likely to show up on tests.Rewrite class notes so you know what they mean. Fill in any gaps in your notes by checking with a classmate who you know takes good notes – this is the person you may need to rely on should you miss a class and need to copy the notes.
  • Be teachable. Do not ask countless questions to get attention. Some questions, such as what should you do if you miss a test due to illness, are best discussed with the professor in private. It’s amazing (but it should come as no real surprise) how much nicer ateacher can be when you look and act the role of a concerned, interested student. If you show you are not interested concerned about your education by missing classes tests, arriving late to class or disrupting the class, why should you be surprised that your professor is not interested or concerned with your problems ?
  • Studywith students who care – find classmates who are really motivated & interested in learning and work with them before, after and between classes either informally or in a study group. Your study group can meet regularly in the math lab where help is within easy reach if needed.
  • Be aware of the various resources available to help in a particular class long before you may need them. Find out the location hours of the Math Lab. Does the course have a website? Did the text come with CD’s or software or a website that can help you study ? Do you have the phone number or e-mail address of anyone from class ? The time to search for the math lab is NOT the hour before your test !
  • Arriving late to class absences – avoid these at all costs. If you absolutely MUST be late, explain why to the professor after class. Be aware that there is almost no valid reason to be chronically late to a class – it just shows poor time management or that you just don’t care enough about the class to get there on time. If you absolutely MUST be absent, get any work or notes you missed from a classmate. Do NOT ask to borrow the professor’s notes.
  • Never put the instructor in an awkward spot– they won’t appreciate it will NOT be inclined to listen sympathetically to your requests. These situations include ( but are not limited to ) :

a) Asking for special consideration, breaks or extra credit (why should the professor give you extra credit he has not offered to the entire class? Here’s what he’s thinking: You didn’t have time to do the assigned work, why do you have time for extra work?).

b) Asking for more time to study for a test you’re not prepared for or for a project you didn’t finish. (Here’s what the instructor

is thinking:Why aren’t you prepared? I gave you plenty of advance notice exactly so you would study beready.)

c) Asking for special breaks of any kind in front of the rest of the class. Others in the class will be resentful if you are given

special breaks they were not, wouldn’t you ? Even if he would have been inclined to makea special accommodation for you,

the professor will almost certainly turn you down in front of others. If you have a unique situation which you need to talk to

yourprofessor about, alwaysmake an appointment to discuss it in private. Do this far in advance – the day before or the day of

the test is not the right time to explain why you can’t take it. And worst of all is anytime after the test has been given.

Explanations given afterthe fact of missing the test will only appear to be lame excuses.

  • RELAX & enjoy the class. Follow these pointers & your semester should be fine!