how to get through a course with a bad teacher

1. Be clear in your own mind about why you think your teacher is horrible. ...
2. Evaluate your own behavior. What are you doing to contribute to the bad relationship between you and this teacher?
3. Talk to your teacher. Ask him/her, sincerely and respectfully, how you can do better in the class. ...
4. Reward and encourage good teaching. Just as your teachers try to encourage you, you can encourage your teacher to provide interesting, relevant lectures and assignments.
5. Focus on your own success, not the teacher. It’s easy to get caught up in passing judgment and developing theories about people you don’t like.

Full Answer

What if my child is in a class with a bad teacher?

If your child is in a class with a bad teacher, you are probably concerned about what your child will learn and what experiences they will have in that classroom. You may worry that an entire school year is a large amount of learning time in your child's academic career.

What to do when your teacher gives you bad grades?

Talk to your teacher. Ask him/her, sincerely and respectfully, how you can do better in the class. Listen to his/her advice as well as any criticism they offer of you. Don’t respond defensively. Instead, try to reflect back what you hear in order to be sure you are understanding correctly.

How do you survive being a bad teacher?

By keeping your head down and not stirring up too much trouble, you can usually get a similar grade to most of your classes with only little more stress. By following these 7 bad teacher survival strategies you can make the most of a bad situation, and, ideally, learn to prevent this kind of a bad situation from developing in the future.

How can I make up for a bad teacher?

One of the best ways to make up for that bad position is finding something or someone to fill the gap. Using alternative resources you can learn the information your teacher is supposed to teach you. The most accessible alternative resource most students have is their textbook.

How do you succeed with a bad teacher?

1:507:44How to Succeed in the Class of a Bad Teacher - #AskKantis 006 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo what I mean by this is you go speak to your teacher for the first time and you sit down with theMoreSo what I mean by this is you go speak to your teacher for the first time and you sit down with the teacher at the office hours after school and let them know your concern.

What to do if teacher is bad at teaching?

Talk With the Principal But if a teacher really is really problematic, you may need to take this step. Begin by calmly and clearly stating in one or two sentences what you see as being the problem. Be prepared to explain how you know what you know. Talk about what happened and how it affected your child.

What are signs of a bad teacher?

10 Signs Your Child Has a Toxic TeacherYour child's diminishing interest in school. ... Your child is constantly nervous or worried. ... The teacher displays bad attitude. ... The teacher has temper tantrums. ... The teacher likes to publicly humiliate students. ... The teacher is blaming the parents. ... The teacher isn't willing to improve.More items...•

How do you deal with a teacher you hate?

If you get a bad teacher, however, you can't just swap him or her out for another one. If you get a “bad” teacher, it's on you to handle it....How to deal with “bad” teachersStop blaming them. I'm not saying that your teacher is always right. ... Avoid their triggers. ... Learn their style.

How to deal with bad teachers?

Be honest about what you don’t know, and attack it with a fresh mind when circumstances improve. 1. Avoid becoming an adversary. The worst way to deal with bad teachers is to actually become the enemy of one.

What to do if you aren't careful with your teachers?

If you aren’t careful you can develop bad habits in dealing with bad teachers that transfer to other classes. Judge each experience in a new way. Don’t hold future teachers responsible for the sins of your past instructors.

What to do if you don't have enough resources to learn something?

If you don’t have adequate resources to learn something and those bad teachers aren’t helping you, keep in mind that you can fix later any problems that you may encounter in the present.

How to overcome a problem you can't overcome?

The person who makes the best grades and never seems to find an issue they can’t overcome. Go to that person and partner up. Form a study group and show that you have a willingness to know what they know. Students often learn better from each other than they do themselves, so keep that in mind before you give up. 2.

Do bad teachers want to be good?

Bad teachers don’t wish to be bad teachers. They want to be good at their jobs. Many care deeply about students and making a difference. Others simply want to have a job and stay out of trouble. In other words, they will do whatever they can to make lives easier on themselves, and that can benefit you.

Who wrote 4tests?

Written by Aric Mitchell. Aric Mitchell 's work appears regularly here at 4tests.com and across the web for sites, such as The Inquisitr and Life'd. A former high school teacher, his passion for education has only intensified since leaving the classroom.

Is a teacher good?

Some teachers are only as good as the level of engagement they are able to draw out in class. If you have questions you’re not asking, then not all the fault can be on the shoulders of the teacher. It is your job as a student to take advantage of the instructional time you have at your disposal.

What to do after talking to a teacher?

You would not want your child to be in a discouraging environment that does not make him want to go to school or learn something. Make an appointment with the school administrators and know in advance what you want to tell them.

How to manage a teacher who is odious?

You can better manage your teacher by knowing what motivates him. Try to participate more in the course, if your teacher is odious because no one is interested. Try not to giggle at his back, if your teacher is odious because he thinks we do not respect him enough.

How to soften your teacher?

One way to soften your teacher is to ask him for help after the course in the subject he teaches. You might be afraid to find yourself alone with your teacher, but you might also learn with amazement that most teachers really enjoy sharing their knowledge and yours may be happy to help you. Ask your teacher to help you after the class if you have to pass a check in a week and there is something you do not understand. You might be surprised at her sudden kindness with you after asking her for help.

How to manage an odious professor?

Another way to manage an odious professor is to try to have a positive attitude in progress, rather than wanting to challenge everything and complain about anything. Do not waste time ranting after the last check you found too hard. Ask yourself if you could not do better next time studying a little more.

Why is my teacher odious?

Try to think about why your teacher is odious, because he feels he is not respected enough in class, for example. All students may be odious, one of them may not take the course seriously enough, or there is probably a group of students who disrupt the course so much that it is impossible to learn whatever. Your teacher is probably odious because he probably has no other way of making himself heard.

Should you talk to your classmates?

You should avoid talking to your classmates, unless you participate in a collective discussion, if you want to attract your teacher’s sympathy. Chatting in progress is very disturbing for the teacher and he

Is a teacher bad?

A teacher can sometimes be quite bad and his actions are not always justified. You must take new measures if your teacher is truly odious, if he is wounding with you, if he laughs at you and if he amuses himself to belittle you and your comrades. You should first note down everything your professor says and does. After that, you can show your comments to your parents and talk to them about what to do next.

How to deal with a bad teacher?

If you want to know how to deal with a bad teacher, then ask questions before you judge. Find out the exact details (as best you can) before you write that email, talk on the phone, or go in for a meeting. There are always two sides to a story.

What to do if the teacher and principal won't listen?

If the teacher and the principal won’t listen, talk to other parents. Get parents together and address the situation as a group. There is power in numbers. It makes a statement.

How to start a conversation with a teacher?

You are a team working together for the good of your child. Keep it in the “I.” The following are examples of how to start the conversation: “I need your help.” “I don’t understand.” “I may have misunderstood.”

How to see what is going on in elementary school?

One of the best ways to see what is going on first-hand is to volunteer at the school. Work in the lunchroom, the library, or be a room mom. Come up at lunch and eat with your child when he is in elementary school.

Why are bad teachers so easy to score high?

You may not believe this immediately but once you connect the dots it will blow your mind: Most bad teachers are easy to score high with because they focus on the wrong stuff. Good teachers often get committed to improving you personally. Self-improvement becomes a requirement. Bad teachers rarely notice.

What to do if a teacher is boring?

If a teacher is a super boring lecturer, don’t tell them. If a teacher gives pointless homework, don’t tell them. If you do dare to tell them, sugar coat it under so many layers of “kind of” that it makes virtually no impact. Trust me, a student has complained to them in the past. Your complaint will not help.

Why is learning fun?

Learning is fun when you get rid of the school part. Bad teachers are a handicap when you’re trying to learn information for your class. They put you in a more challenging position. That position is something that you’re going to have to make up for somewhere else.

What to do when your teacher gives you a raw deal?

When your teacher is giving you a raw deal, you need to be the one to have evidence for your claim. If you claim one thing and the teacher claims another thing, you need to have evidence to prove the teacher is incorrect or lying. Otherwise, don’t waste your time claiming it in the first place.

How to make up for a bad position?

One of the best ways to make up for that bad position is finding something or someone to fill the gap. Using alternative resources you can learn the information your teacher is supposed to teach you. The most accessible alternative resource most students have is their textbook.

How to score a good test?

You need more than just good scores. You need: 1 Efficient learning strategies (you can use through life) 2 High-scoring testing strategies (to prove you know your stuff) 3 Pareto-esque prioritization systems (to use your time better)

Can a teacher lose their job?

It’s regularly claimed that it’s almost impossible for a teacher to lose their job. While that, somewhat applies to a certain subset of teachers, most teachers have a notable risk of losing their job. They just don’t have the risk of losing their job in the same way as the average person.

What to do if you think something serious is going on?

If something serious is going on, speak to someone. There are bad professors that don't teach well, and then there are unfortunately bad professors who say offensive things in a classroom or who treat different kinds of students differently. If you think this is going on, talk to someone as soon as possible.

Can you drop a class with a bad professor?

Sometimes, no matter what you do, you can't make it work with a bad professor. If you need to drop the class, make sure you do so by the appropriate deadline. The last thing you need is a bad grade on your transcript on top of the bad experience.

How to get your teacher to know you're paying attention?

Make an appointment to meet the teacher (use the principal if your teacher balks at setting an appointment); you should come prepared with your main concerns and questions. Most importantly, this step will set a tone as an involved parent and it will at least let your teacher know you’re paying attention.

What happens when a child gets a new teacher?

If your child gets a new teacher, more than likely that teacher will face a learning curve herself when it comes to managing the classroom effectively. There is a lot that goes into a well-managed classroom, more than anyone can learn from even the best teacher-prep program.

What is a slacker teacher?

Slacking, or work laziness, often surfaces from an imbalance between work and home. The teacher might go through a phase of slacking or laziness, which doesn’t span her entire teaching career, but is instead a result of big life changes.

What is the most anticipated information at the beginning of every school year?

Probably the most anticipated information at the beginning of every school year is the name of your child’s teacher. This isn’t surprising since teachers hold a tremendous amount of power regarding how the year will play out, for your child…and you.

Do movie makers make movies about teachers?

Movie makers don’t usually create movies about teachers who slack in the profession, or are lazy. That’s not the typical view of teachers that first comes to most people’s mind. However, in my 20 plus years of teaching, I have encountered this teacher example more times than not, to be honest.

Can teachers be lazy?

Yes, it’s true . Teachers can be lazy, too. In fact, some teacher’s pick the teaching profession in the first place because they think it will allow them to slack off. They are enticed by supposedly shorter hours, summers and major holidays off, and the idea of tenure.

Do slacker teachers communicate?

The slacker teacher also won’t communicate much to you, either. Most proficient teachers send home a beginning of the year syllabus, along with a weekly ‘communication folder’ (to learn more about the significance of communication folders, check out this other article in my Education series).

What to do if you can't change teachers?

If you can't change teachers or schools, do your best to fill in any learning gaps as quickly as possible. Look into tutoring or other options to provide learning outside of school. This way, your child will be up to speed and ready to move onto the next grade the following year.

What does it mean to switch teachers?

Switching teachers is a last resort. Changing classrooms means adjusting to new peers, a new routine, and different classroom rules. Some schools may not be able to provide a different teacher due to staffing limits or district policies.

Why do kids want to go to school?

1 A positive classroom environment is a primary reason why kids want to go to school and enjoy learning.

Why is feedback important in school?

Feedback enables the willing teacher to improve and exposes the truly bad teacher. If nothing else, reaching out to the teacher lets them know your child talks to you about what is happening at school. If they are an inept teacher, they may rethink their methods, knowing an involved parent is watching.

How does elementary school affect your child?

Your child's early elementary school experience can influence how they go on to feel about school and learning in general. Listen for clues your child is unhappy at school, share concerns with the teacher, and reach out to the administration if things don't improve.

Can a teacher resent you?

The teacher may resent you "tattling" on them, and a petty teacher may hold this against your child . However, it's more likely the teacher will feel more cautious around you and your child, inhibiting an open and honest dialogue about your child's progress moving forward.

Can an administrator complain to the principal?

Keep in mind that involving the principal is essentially complaining to the teacher's boss. The teacher may resent you "tattling" on them, and a petty teacher may hold this against your child.

Reasons You Might Receive a Poor Evaluation

Most teachers will receive what they believe is an unfair evaluation at least once in their career. Whether it is deserved or not, this is sure to happen at some point. Rather than being surprised by the negative evaluation, it is best to be prepared for it so that you can:

What To Do In The Short Term

What you do and how you react in the moments and hours after receiving a poor evaluation are crucial. The last thing that you want to do while in the moment is to react emotionally. If you act without thinking it through first in this situation, then you might come across as unprofessional, defensive, or accusatory.

What To Do After a Few Days

Now that you have reacted properly in the moments and hours following your poor evaluation result, you can use the next few days to formulate your next steps.

What To Do In The Long Term

In the long term, you need to consider how this will affect your career. One poor evaluation will not ruin your teaching career unless you make it. As long as you have a good attitude about the situation and realize that you can learn from it, you will be fine.

Wrapping Things Up

Receiving a negative teacher evaluation can be hard to handle. You will likely be mad at yourself, sad about the result, and embarrassed about the whole situation. However, this happens to almost every single teacher at some point in their career.