Students spend about half of the year in school. This means that developing strong relationships with your students is essential to their motivation and academic success. While these connections can sometimes take time, it is important to nurture them and recognize that they vary from student to student and class to class. Looking for ways to strengthen these special relationships? Here are some tips that may help.
The beginning of the year is a good time to learn about your students’ interests, hobbies, dreams, and concerns. Here are a few ideas to try:
Learn all of your students’ names and call them by their preferred name or nickname.
Talk about what they did over the weekend or set aside a certain time during the week for them to share personal experiences.
Use the first five minutes of the day to chat about things unrelated to school.
Show that you are interested in their lives (e.g., “How did your soccer tournament go last Friday?”).
Have occasional conversations about non-academic topics.
Organize “portrait of the week” activities where students take turns sharing something unique about themselves.
Let your students get to know you (your hobbies, pets, etc.).
Participate in activities outside the classroom (extracurricular activities, field trips, etc.).
Celebrate student birthdays.
Active and empathetic listening means listening not only with your ears, but also with your eyes to pick up on students’ nonverbal cues. It is done without judgment, taking into account the emotions behind their words. This seemingly small gesture can show them that their words have value. Here are some tips for incorporating it into your approach:
Greet students at the classroom door in the morning and between bells. Give them a smile, a high five, a fist bump, some small talk, or let each student tell you how they would like to be greeted.
Encourage students (in the elementary grades) to use emoticons and words that represent their emotions or feelings. Validate their feelings (“I can see you’re sad...”). In high school, do not be afraid to check in with a student who seems to be struggling by letting them know they can come talk to you when it is convenient.
Do fun activities and take active breaks from time to time. Not only are they healthy, but they are a great way to bond with your class.
Use positive body language. Avoid crossing your arms, which can create a sense of distance. Be open to communication and always get down at eye level when talking to students face to face.
Be present: Move around the classroom and make sure the layout allows all students to see you.
Take time to rephrase what students are saying to confirm your understanding. This shows them that you are really listening and that you care about what they have to say.
Students need to feel that the teacher treats everyone fairly. Consistent rules and expectations help create a climate of trust and a safe space. To create a classroom where students feel comfortable expressing themselves, open communication is key. Here are some suggestions:
Set up a suggestion box or idea board.
Schedule regular one-on-one meetings.
Establish routines and rituals (greetings, goodbyes, etc.).
Organize group activities where each student can contribute and feel valued.
Assign a variety of classroom jobs so that everyone can participate: teacher’s helper, timekeeper, notetaker, moderator, paper passer, instruction giver, librarian, messenger, board cleaner, dictionary keeper, etc.
Brainstorm suggestions for making the classroom a better place. For example, students could work together to write a code of honour.
Highlight efforts and acts of kindness. When you use positive reinforcement, students will see you as an adult ally who is there to support them.
Use a well-timed sense of humour. Try to play on your students’ sense of humour to strengthen the connection. Being self-deprecating also makes you seem more genuine and warm.
Be humble about your own mistakes and questions you may not be able to answer.
Read inspirational materials together that build a sense of belonging. A good example of a book for younger grades is Our Classroom Is a Family.
The pedagogical approaches you use in the classroom can affect how well you connect with your students. The more a student enjoys learning, the more likely they are to develop a good relationship with you. This is what differentiated instruction means: Getting to know each of your students’ skills and interests and helping them tap into them.
Differentiated instruction gives students more choices and allows them to reach their full potential. This makes them more motivated and engaged in the classroom. It also builds self-esteem and confidence by making students feel valued and unique.
Parents are allies in your students’ academic success and overall well-being. It is important to develop healthy communication with parents. You can also make it a point to share their child’s accomplishments when communicating with parents. Together, you can celebrate the student’s learning strengths and set new goals where there are opportunities for improvement. The closer and healthier your relationship with parents, the more their children will feel that you care about them.