How to Become a Teacher's Pet

Last week, we discussed how to earn your peers’ hatred so you may become a beloved character in the future. This week, we must follow up by learning to suck up to your teachers in order to achieve full book, TV and movie cliché. By following these commands (like a dog), you will earn your spot as a Teacher’s Pet.

1)     Sit. Before we can get into more sophisticated commands, you must master the simple art of sitting down and paying attention. Teachers can spot an attentive student from a mile away… and they love it! By listening intently to your instructor, you lay the groundwork for becoming a model Teacher’s Pet.

2)     Fetch. Turn in your assignments on time. This showcases a trait that professors believe every student should have -- responsibility. Turning in anything late annoys teachers to no end. They simply can’t comprehend why you wouldn’t turn things in on time. Show them you value their course by turning everything in on time, creating a subtle Teacher’s Pet attribute.

3)     Speak. Has your teacher ever asked a question in class, then looked on as no one felt confident enough to answer? Be the student your teacher needs by breaking the ice and answering. Even if you give the wrong answer, your teacher will notice you and appreciate your willingness to speak in class. A word of warning: do not talk too often. Just as a dog gets annoying when barking incessantly, having only one student answer can be frustrating to a teacher. Make sure you let others have a chance at answering. The balance of answering and letting others answer shows teachers your ability to read a room, and they’ll appreciate the help.

4)     Shake. Remember, your professor is a human. Ask about their day, families, other pets etc. Get to know them on a personal level. You have several teachers each term, but they have a multitude of students. Showing that you care about them beyond one class will make your professor grateful in ways we students will never understand.

Following these commands will help you move up in your teacher’s mind from experimental guinea pig (we all know they use us to test new material) to lovable puppy dog. By setting yourself up as a Teacher’s Pet, you seal the deal as the “adorkable” character everyone loves.

Lacey Stecker is a Sophomore

Communication Major from

Noblesville, Indiana