I've been teaching for a year, and I've learned a lot about what makes students successful

Hi, I'm a high school English teacher. I've got about a year of experience under my belt, and that's given me a good idea of what helps my students succeed. I'd like to share those observations, as well as some other tips I wish I had known back when I was in school.<br><br>* **Sit in the front row.** I've taught around 800 students, and the ones in the front row are overwhelmingly my best-behaved and most attentive. Students in the back are more likely to get in trouble and have social issues, and tend to do worse on their schoolwork.<br>* **Participate.** Few things give me a worse impression of a student than the ones who don't participate. I don't expect you to be outgoing, and you don't need to be the most talkative student in the classroom. But participate a little. Say something occasionally when I ask a question. I never give participation grades, but participation is the best way to make yourself look good.<br>* **Ask for help.** I never take points off when a student asks me for help. If you're struggling, don't be afraid to ask me for clarification or extra instruction. It's better to ask me for help than to turn in something sloppy or incomplete that you could have done better if you'd just asked.<br>* **Pay attention to instructions.** So many of you fail to follow instructions, which costs you valuable points. It's better when I give verbal instructions, but when I write them down, I get a lot of people who skim the assignment and don't follow the instructions, costing you valuable points. Students who do exactly as I ask them to always get the highest grades. <br>* **Spend more time on your schoolwork.** There's a lot of variation in how much effort you guys put into your work, and the ones who put in effort always do better than the ones who put in minimal effort. It's not that hard; put a little extra time into your schoolwork every day. If you're doing the bare minimum, that will be reflected in your grades. If you put in extra effort, you'll get better grades, and I'll also be more willing to help you when you need it.<br>* **Stay organized.** If you stay organized, you'll do better on your schoolwork. Keep your locker, desk, and backpack organized. It's just that simple. If you stay organized, you'll spend less time searching for things, and you'll also be less likely to lose things. If you stay organized, you'll do better on your schoolwork.<br>* **Read the directions.** Along with the last two tips, this one is very important. If you read the directions, you'll do better on your schoolwork. If you skim the directions, you'll often mess things up and lose valuable points. Read the directions carefully. If you have questions, ask me to clarify what I've said. If you read the directions, you'll do better on your schoolwork.<br>* **Meet deadlines.** There are two kinds of students in my class: the ones who always turn in their work, and the ones who don't. If you turn in all your work on time, you'll be a lot more likely to pass and get a good grade. If you are continually late on turning in your work, you'll often fail. This is true not just for school, but for the rest of your life.<br>* **Use the restroom between classes.** Just trust me on this one.<br>* **Don't be afraid to tell a teacher if you notice bad behavior.** If you tell me about bad behavior, I'll almost always take you seriously and do something about it. If you notice behavior that's disruptive, immoral, or dangerous, never be afraid to tell me. It's your right and responsibility to come to me when when you notice anything like that.<br>* **Eat your lunch, and eat healthy.** If you don't eat your lunch, you'll often lose energy during your afternoon classes. Stay away from junk food and try to eat something healthy. It's better for you and will keep you focused better.<br>* **Treat teachers with respect.** There are some teachers who let their students get away with anything. I'm not one of them. If you treat me with disrespect, I will come down on you like a ton of bricks. I'm all about mutual respect, but if you show disrespect towards me, I will never let that slide. Treat me with respect, and I will always treat you with respect.<br>* **If all else fails, fake it.** If you're not doing well in a class, put a little extra effort into making yourself look good. Be attentive and participatory, and make sure your work looks neat and complete. Try to build a little rapport with your teachers. If you can make a bad impression, you can also make a good impression. If you need to improve your grade but don't know how, try to fake it. If you pretend to be a good student, you'll eventually start to be a good student.<br>* **Be kind and compassionate.** Being a good student is not enough; you need to be a good person as well. Always be kind, compassionate, and understanding of others. There will always be students who are difficult, mean, and annoying. Be kind to them too. Always try to do the right thing, even when it's difficult.<br><br>That's my advice. I don't have all the answers, and I'm not the voice of authority. I just know what I've observed in my experience as a teacher, and I wanted to share that experience with you.