Improving grades? How about just treating the students with respect? It's a start! (principal, class)

[jps-teacher]

Want to improve grades? Ask students how they feel in class.

Yes, it likely will improve grades - but the reasons it improves grades are what are important here!

It helps the students feel as if they matter and as if their opinions and experiences matter. It helps them to feel cared about and considered.

This is important and there was a time when more students felt that way without needing a survey from the teacher.

But I will take a survey if that helps!

[phetaroi]

I agree.

I used to urge my teachers to look at how they are rated on ratemyteacher.com. They would itch and moan over the hyperbole entered by some, and make the excuse that students don't always know what makes a good teacher, but I found that an open minded professional (and as the school principal I tried to be) could learn things from the comments left on that site. There were a number of times I modified my own behavior as a result of comments on the site.

[krug]

You kidding me, most don't even know what respect is. The self esteem train has run off the rails, and maybe instead of rainbows, butterflies, etc, teachers/parents can reinforce the importance of education, especially now under a new "job creating" administration.

[history nerd]

This should be obvious but I guess some people need it spelled out.

[nana053]

Kids perform up or down to teacher's and parent's expectations of them.