A friend of mine was hosting a Twitter chat this weekend and asked, “Kids don’t learn from teachers they don’t like – what are some ways for kids to ‘like’ their teachers?”

Well, what is it that kids like? Chocolate. Fun. Feeling successful. The safety to fall but not get hurt. These are all good things.

What about the teacher side of the equation – Likeability. How does a teacher build it?

Here’s my answer to the question:

• Humor
• Laughter
• High fives (the kind they have to jump for)
• Hard, tiring work (yes, kids love this!)
• Opportunities to fail (safely and learn from it – get stronger from it)
• Real growth they can see

And at all costs, avoid pretension.

BTW – the same holds true for teachers. Here’s another wa to gain influence with your teachers.