Do you remember learning about student relationships in your teacher preparation programs? Well, me either.
I don’t think fostering student relationships can be taught. Maybe that’s why we’ve never learned about it in teacher preparation programs. Even if it can’t be taught, in my opinion, it needs to be discussed. Have you ever seen Rita Pierson’s Every Child Need’s a Champion video? This is basically my JAM! I saw it during one of my first years teaching and I absolutely ran with it. (Watch below)
Fostering relationships is something that takes time, energy and experience. I know what you’re thinking “Yes but I have pacing to follow, lessons to write, curricular to teach, meetings to attend.” etc. While this may all be true (believe me, I know) you need to make fostering student relationships your number one priority. I’ll tell you exactly why.
Without positive student relationships, we have nothing. I’ll repeat that, teachers have nothing without student relationships. I cannot stress the importance of this enough. Let’s face it, students are the sole reason that we are employed! We became educators to inspire children of all ages to be the best versions of themselves, even on the days that we are feeling discouraged or defeated. Children are not going to learn from someone they don’t like or cannot connect with, period. Therefore, we need to make ourselves “like-able.” There are so many ways to do this and I won’t get into that here, perhaps that will be a whole other blog post about how to foster these relationships.
I want you to take a second and think about your ultimate favorite teacher. Was it a male teacher? A female teacher?
Close your eyes and picture them.
Now, open them. When you closed your eyes, could you see why they were your favorite teacher? Were they always smiling? Did they never give up on you? Did they help you through a difficult time in your life? Did they joke with you? Or maybe they just read with such power and passion that it inspired you to be an educator today. Whatever the reason is, it was in some way connected to the relationship that you had with that teacher.
As a teacher in a Title I school, relationships are especially key. Once the relationship has been fostered with the teacher and student, all things are possible. I experienced a child receiving a 1.5/20 on their writing MOSL (Measure of Student Learning) in the fall, who jumped to a 16.5/20 by spring. Yes, you read that correctly!
Were there many factors tied to this? I’m sure there were. But in my opinion, it was tied to the relationship that I had with that child. I nurtured and loved her like she was my own child, and this had an impact on her as a student and a person. She still visits me to this day to catch me up on her life.
Let me be very clear, I’m in no way taking away from the importance of high expectations, preparation/lesson planning or finding your marigold (see my post “Tips for First Year Teachers” here) however, this must be a top priority of yours if you want to see the maximum growth possible from your students. We must strive to foster positive teacher and student relationships as early in the year as possible.
To watch Rita’s Pierson’s video, click here.
Xo,
