From day one, your goal – if you wish you make your time teaching as smooth as possible – is to win over the students, earn their trust and build rapport. This is not to say make friends with them. There is a distinct difference between being their friend and bring their trusted educator. Particularly as a graduate teacher, it is easy to fall into this trap of 'friendship', and the closer your age to that of your students, the more you can relate and empathise with a student. And this can work to both your advantage, and disadvantage.

On the one hand, understanding your students and what engages them, how they spend their time and appealing to their sense of self/identity, can help you in the way you communicate with them, deliver content to them and guide them through the battlefield that is curriculum. On the other hand, sometimes it's difficult to remain objective and work-focused when our understanding of a student – and our judgements toward them – become clouded.

Setting boundaries in relationships with students is just as important as setting classroom ruled. It dictates expectations and limits the opportunity for things to go awry. Things to consider include:

• Letting your students know that you have their best interest at heart, and as a teacher, this is standard practice. You advocate for them, not against them. You're their to teach them, not feed them to the trolls.
• Be accessible to your students. Knowing they can come to you about concerns and queries goes a long way in establishing trust and respect.
• Take a moment every so often to greet them by name – instead of by the masses – and inquire about their day, week, weekend or holiday. This shows them that you care – even if you don't and increases their self-worth.
• Take an interest in their achievements whether academic or extra curricular. Ask them about it, congratulate them, or be present at a sporting match.
• Get a sense of who they are as an individual, what is their favourite colour? - and mark their work in it. Do they have any pets? Favourite music? - You'll be surprised how much you might have in common with some of them. For those that are completely other than yourself, appreciate their uniqueness.

It's a slow process, but within the first few weeks you will start to see some changes as those relationships are formed. Don't insist on forcing the relationship upon them, they will engage when they're ready. Accept that some will come easier than others, and some won't come at all. At the end of the day, your goal is to teach, and while having a positive relationship with a student helps, it is not necessary for you to do your job, and do it well.