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The following are outcomes from our discussions about building rapport appropriate for fostering productive classroom instruction.

Names

Triangular method (or rectangular): Connect names and faces by finding a third point which connects them to you. You can later use this as a useful mnemonic. Some examples might be areas of research, stories of a student's name, other related stories. For more information, see Learning student names (Middendorf, 2003) from Teaching Resource Center at Indiana University.

Seating arrangements

• Arrange seating in teams (if the classroom is very big)
• Move yourself between the students, if they are unable to move (tables bolted to the floor, students that prefer to sit at the back of a room, auditorium-style classrooms)
• Consider different rooms and different buildings. It may not be possible to make adjustments.

Creating a safe environment

• Warm and friendly attitude towards students (but this technique doesn't always work)
• Activate students with jokes, stories. Establish contact that leads to a good atmosphere.
• Never criticize opinions. Don't put the students down! There are no stupid questions.
• Feed them brownies. :)

Opening the class

• Preparatory behavior
• Funny remarks
• Cool PowerPoint initial slide
• Small talk

Closing the class

• Asking for feedback
• Introducing the next topic
• Relating to a current event or issue