Which of the following is NOT part of establishing rapport with students?

• A. Praise appropriate behavior
• B. Establish open communication
• C. Build trust through consistent expectations
• D. Ignore student input

Answer: (D)

Building rapport with students hinges on creating a respectful, predictable, and responsive classroom climate where students feel valued and heard. Praising appropriate behavior reinforces positive actions and helps students know what success looks like, strengthening their willingness to participate. Establishing open communication invites students to share ideas, concerns, and questions, which builds a sense of safety and belonging. Building trust through consistent expectations shows that rules are fair and reliably applied, so students know what to expect and feel secure. In contrast, ignoring student input signals that their thoughts don’t matter, which erodes trust and disengages them from the learning process. So ignoring student input is not part of establishing rapport.