Putting yourself in another person’s shoes is a skill that can be useful for the rest of your life. Developing empathy and compassion can help you in social and work situations for the rest of your life. Learning to step outside yourself can help you see a situation in a new light and solve problems. You should tell them how you feel. Do not express this in a disrespectful way. Be kind. Of course, it can be hard to see your teacher as anyone other than a mean person who is getting you down, but you should remember that they’re only human, too.
Though it may be challenging to be nice to a person you don’t like, it can help them be nicer to you, which can lead to better feelings all around. This is another skill you may need to use later on in life, so it’s best to get some practice, now. Don’t think of it as being fake. Think of it as making the situation as bearable as possible for everybody.
Try to focus on the things you do like about the learning experience. Being excited about new material will make class more fun for you, and will make your teacher less likely to be mean. They will be more inclined to soften if they see that you genuinely care. Think about it: it can be pretty discouraging for your teacher to teach something they are really excited about, only to get groans and eye rolls in response. Of course that would encourage meanness.
You may see other students talking back and may think this is appropriate. However, it’s your job to rise above the common denominator and set an example for others. Take few deep breaths when your teacher is being mean so you can get through the situation without breaking down. [4] X Expert Source Katie StyzekProfessional School Counselor Expert Interview. 28 October 2020. If you disagree with your teacher, try to be as respectful as possible, and ask them questions instead of making statements that make them feel wronged.
Believe it or not, but everyone has a soft spot. Maybe your teacher is really into cats. Doing something as simple as telling them about your cat or asking to see pictures of theirs can make them open up to you a bit. Even giving your teacher a real compliment, like saying you like a new poster on the wall, can help motivate your teacher to be nice if they take a lot of pride in their classroom.
Don’t make this too obvious. Just bring a notebook to class and write down the upsetting things your teacher says. You can also make a mental note of them and write them down after class. Though generally saying your teacher is mean can have an impact, just as you might have learned in school, solid arguments need to be made with specific examples. The more specific examples you have about your teacher’s meanness, the more convincing your case will be.
Don’t be one of those kids who packs up all of their things when there’s five minutes left of class. The need to leave early will drive your teacher even crazier than being late to class.
Though it’s important to ask questions, one of the things that can make teachers mean is students who ask very obvious questions about things their teachers have stated again and again. Make sure you listen carefully so you don’t make this mistake.
Taking notes will also help you do better in school, and this can make your teacher nicer, too.
Though you shouldn’t try to answer every question every time, make an effort to be engaged in the material so your teacher is more inclined to be nice. Participating in class will not only make your teacher nicer, but it will also make the learning experience more fun for you. If you’re more engaged in the material, you’ll be less likely to get bored or distracted in class.
If you have a chance to choose your seat, try to sit away from your friends or distracting students so your teacher has less reason to be mean to you.
Teachers are people, too, and they can be sensitive. If your teacher catches you making fun of them, then it’ll be hard to win your teacher over again. If your friends are teasing your teacher, try to separate yourself from them. You don’t want to be associated with that kind of behavior.
This should work most of the time. However, if your teacher is really very mean, then they may turn you down, but it’s worth trying. If you do choose to ask for help, the important thing is to ask well in advance before any tests. If you ask for help a day or two before the test, your teacher may get angry and may wonder why you didn’t ask sooner.
If your teacher is naturally mean, then they will naturally be suspicious of a student who is trying too hard to get in their good graces. Make it feel natural.
Sit your child down and have a frank conversation about the teacher. Make sure the child takes the time to tell you as much as they can in as much detail as possible instead of just making passing comments. If your child is crying or very upset when talking about the teacher, help them calm down so you can get more concrete information.
Of course, your first instinct should be to trust and protect your child, but you need to think about how your child’s behavior may be impacting your teacher. Consider the possibility that both your child and the teacher may be at fault.
You don’t need to pry too much, but it won’t hurt to casually mention that your child has been running into some trouble with their teacher, and to see if their children have made similar comments. Strength in numbers is important. If there are more parents who are angry about the teacher, it’s more likely that some action can be taken.
Take the time to really get a sense of who the teacher is and what they may be frustrated about. If your teacher is mean or demeaning when talking about your child, or just generally seems to dislike their students, then you may have a problem. Trust your gut. If the teacher seems nice, do you think they’re faking it, or does it feel genuine?
Use the concrete details your child has given you to show that the behavior is inappropriate. You can’t just say that the teacher is mean, but you can point to several things the teacher said that were out of line. If other parents are with you on this, then having them also make appointments with the administrators, or even setting up a group meeting, can have an even larger impact.
If you decide not to take further action, you can talk to your child about how this is a life lesson. Unfortunately, in life, we sometimes have to deal with people we really don’t like. Learning how to cooperate with them and not letting them get to you is an important skill that can help us get through life. This may not feel like the most comforting answer, but this may be the best you can do.
