Identify Signs of Teacher Favoritism: Are You a Favorite?

Last Updated on 2023-06-01 , 4:28 pm

Teachers often have favorites, even if they never admit it outright.

It’s usually quite clear who the teacher’s pet is in class, regardless of the lack of verbal confirmation.

However, for those who might not be as attuned, here are some less noticeable indications of teacher favoritism.

Identifying Favoritism through Eye Contact

Your teacher’s eye contact often reveals who they favour.

They often focus on their preferred students, ensuring they comprehend the lesson being taught.

A clear sign of this favoritism is when they make certain these students are attentive at the start of the lesson and show signs of understanding by the end.

This extra attention provides a pleasant focus for the teacher’s gaze.

Observing Physical Presence 

Observing the teacher’s movement in class is another way to identify if you’re a teacher’s favourite.

They may frequently pass by the favored student during the lesson.

This could be to gauge their progress, to check if they’re struggling, or even to note their stationery or bag – subtle signs of favoritism that can often go unnoticed.

The “Go-to” Student for Difficult Questions

Teachers may also show favoritism by regularly turning to a specific student for answers when the class is struggling.

The intellectually gifted students often become the teacher’s favourites.

If the teacher habitually relies on a particular student to provide solutions to challenging problems, this can be another hint of favoritism.

Understanding Test Structures

Teachers may also display favoritism in the way they structure their tests. If the teacher sets tests that only certain students can excel at, this could be another sign of favoritism.

This is because teachers understand their favourite students’ capabilities and may design tests to showcase these students’ strengths.

Evaluating Feedback

Lastly, feedback on assignments can be a powerful indicator of favoritism. While some students receive comprehensive feedback like “Can you find a better word for this?” or “Good try, but you need to explain this point further”, others may only get short, curt responses.

This disproportionate feedback is a definite sign of teacher favoritism. Understanding these signs can be key in identifying if you’re a teacher’s favorite student.