I’m going to be answering a few questions about this weeks article on how to make your teachers happy without looking like a loser…
Take note: we are removing a few hundred email subscribers (that our analytics deem low-interest.) If you’re not interested in these emails – feel free to use the unsubscribe button at the bottom of this email.
If you are interested – participate – play along – reply – disagree – agree. We read it all (and attempt to reply to it all.)
Anyway…
To the questions:
Why even worry about making your teachers happy?
Because grades are usually a little subjective.
Even in math, the teachers give partial credit based on their subjective judgement.
Happy teachers = easier better grades
I know… some teachers don’t deserve it…
But it’s not about them. It’s about you.
Stay in the habits that make people like you more and you’ll be in a better position in everything you do. It doesn’t require extra effort to keep your teachers happy. It just requires you give them the same courtesy you give to random dogs you walk by.
(If they’re friendly, pat their head. If they’re not, keep a little distance and don’t dance around in a prime rib bikini. – That’s a metaphor… Don’t actually do that with your teachers.)
This is the difference between winning arguments and winning in life.
The person that wins arguments doesn’t always win in life. Let your teacher “win” the arguments. You have better things to win at.
Next question…
XX teacher hates me through no fault of my own, what should I do?
I think you’re probably right. If you genuinely haven’t done anything to wrong a certain teacher – there is still a chance they’ll just not like you. (Well… I don’t get it. I think you’re awesome!)
It’s strange how that happens…
Either way… your behavior shouldn’t change. Be polite. Be respectful. Don’t give them any logical reason to complain about you.
Best case – the teacher changes their mind.
Worst case – the teacher can’t do anything to cause you real problems because you’ve been so polite. I get that it sucks…
Next question/concern…
You’re contradicting yourself! You say… don’t try to make them happy but do this to make them happy!
I love when people pay attention! Correct-ish.
The key is…
Don’t be weird about it.
Don’t be a “try-hard”
Don’t kiss their portable seat cushion
Be polite. Be nice.
And your teacher will like you significantly more than any other scenario. (Teachers often give “teacher’s pets” lower grades because teachers intentionally judge them more harshly to “stay objective.”)
These are the kinds of points that even some top students blunder on…
These are the kind of points I call “free points” in KAIC. But to clarify based on what one reader mentioned – these aren’t “free” points… they’re just points that are so easy to get that any semi-sane student can waltz their way into higher scores.
– Aaron
