Be conscious of signs of racial or sexual harassment, whether by you, towards you, or towards other members of the class. Make it clear by your words and actions that put-downs or derogatory comments about any group for whatever reason are simply not acceptable. You can be sympathetic and supportive, but becoming a student's counselor can cause problems. Know your students' names. If you have a large class, learn as many names as possible.
Students are more likely to cause problems if they are anonymous in the classroom.
When you use your students' names, you give them a sense of personal responsibility for the class. When acting as a teaching assistant, involve yourself only to the extent that you are expected to be involved. If the professor you are assisting is in charge of determining grades and you receive complaints about grades, have the students deal with the professor. These tips provide some basic guidelines for maintaining a productive classroom and a respectful relationship with your students. Here are some responses to more specific questions that beginning teachers sometimes ask about classroom dynamics.