- Learn Your Students’ Names Early
- Make an intentional effort to learn and correctly use students’ names. It builds rapport, communicates respect, and shows you value them as individuals.
- Normalize Help-Seeking Behaviors
- Explain what office hours are and how to participate. Emphasize that office hours are for everyone and not just for struggling students. Regularly invite students to visit during office hours or after class and consider offering flexible meeting times.
- Explicitly Teach “College Knowledge”
- Many first-year students may not understand implicit academic norms. Clarify expectations around syllabus use, time management, participation, and email etiquette. Consider a syllabus scavenger hunt or “college skills moments” weekly.
- Scaffold Assignments and Provide Exemplars
- Break major assignments into smaller steps with check-ins or student peer reviews. Provide models of strong work and use rubrics to clarify evaluation criteria.
- Validate Students’ Lived Experiences
- Incorporate a variety of perspectives in course materials. Encourage connections between content and students’ backgrounds and avoid assumptions about prior knowledge, students’ available time outside class to complete tasks, and financial situations.
- Build Community in the Classroom
- Use collaborative activities and low-stakes icebreakers to foster peer connections. Include group norms co-created with students to support a respectful and supportive learning environment. Give students points for in-class activities. Consider trying a flipped classroom approach.
- Use Transparent Teaching Practices (TILT)
- For every assignment, clearly state the purpose, task, and criteria for success. This clarity helps demystify expectations and empowers students. Interested in TILTing an assignment based on the Transparency in Learning and Teaching framework? Learn more in this short training.
- Provide Timely, Constructive Feedback
- Offer specific, growth-oriented feedback and return graded work promptly. Make revision opportunities available when feasible, to reinforce a learning mindset and provide space and time for students to practice their knowledge and skills.
- Share Resources and Refer Early
- Proactively connect students with academic support, counseling, financial aid, and mentoring programs. Embed these resources in your syllabus and course announcements.
- Model a Growth Mindset and Compassionate Authority
- Frame mistakes as part of learning. Be approachable, but also consistent. Show students you believe in their capacity to succeed, even when challenges arise. It’s important not only to set high expectations, but also to show students that you believe in their ability to meet them—and to provide the support they need to succeed in the course.