Students intend to succeed. Communicate your belief in their success. Establish an appropriate communicative environment between you and your students. Remember that part of your communication with students is related to your content and part of it should is interpersonal (whether it is voiced or interpreted). Develop appropriate relationships with your students and incorporate teaching practices that build instructor-student rapport.

• Engage students in the content – through discussion, activities, and time to think.
• Show students that you care that they learn the course content.
• Create an atmosphere that honors effort and commitment.
• Talk with students instead of at them.
• Share your personal/research interest in your field.
• Use the phrases “our class” and “we” to signal that your class is a learning community.
• Communicate concern for students as individuals.
• Connect the content to the lived experiences of all students.
• Make time to answer student questions/create a system where all students ask questions.
• Ask students for feedback on your teaching several times a semester; do something with their feedback.