Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

5 Reasons Why Student-Teacher Relationships are Important (thank you to albert.io)

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Relationship building with students has been shown to be instrumental in student success, and it may be one of the most underrated skills for educators today. Here are a few reasons why student-teacher relationships are important:

1. Building positive relationships with students can lead to improved academic results.  This is a big end-goal for many educators, whose jobs include guiding students to fulfilling their academic potentials. Now relationships alone do not guarantee that a student will perform better—they still need engaging and appropriate content instruction. But research has shown that more positive student-teacher relationships are associated with higher levels of student engagement in the short- and long-term for a variety of factors (attendance, academic grades, fewer disruptive behaviors, etc).

2. Feeling safe and comfortable can motivate both students and teachers to continue logging in to class.    Students clearly have more fun in a classroom where they have a personal connection with the instructor—it turns out that the same applies to teachers. A study in the European Journal of Psychology and Education found student-teacher relationships to be a strong predictor for increased joy and lower feelings of anxiety amongst teachers.

3. Having strong relationships with your students can make interactions with parents much easier.   Nobody wants to show up to a parent-teacher conference and have nothing to say about somebody’s child. By being genuinely interested in your students and planning activities to strengthen those relationships, phone calls home will be much easier and more enjoyable. Parents will appreciate that you know their children well, and they will be more likely to trust you and implement your feedback. Go over how to conduct virtual parent-teacher conferences in this post you may find helpful.

4. It can boost good behavior in teens for up to 4 years.  A study by the University of Cambridge found that having a positive relationship with a teacher around the age of 10-11 years old contributes to “the development of ‘prosocial’ behaviours such as cooperation and altruism, as well as significantly reduce problem classroom behaviours such as aggression and oppositional behaviour.” Even more, those effects could last for years after student-teacher interactions, proving to be just as effective as anti-bullying initiatives at developing adolescents in a holistic manner.

5. Positive student-teacher relationships have huge academic benefits for our most vulnerable students.   This means that focusing on relationships promotes equity in your classroom. The students who are most at-risk—those who are racially, socially, or economically marginalized or have learning disabilities—benefit the most from the quality of relationships they form with teachers. When Stanford psychologists used “belonging” interventions on middle school students at the beginning of the school year, a time when students most worry about belonging to their communities, the exercises helped first-generation and minority students find greater academic success.

Additional resources:

https://www.pbis.org/resource/supporting-families-with-pbis-at-home

https://www.pbis.org/resource/returning-to-school-during-and-after-crisis

http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Reset-and-Restart/Returning-to-School-Supporting-the-Social-Emotio#Building%20and%20Sustaining%20Relationships

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What Are They?

Everyone can point to a teacher who made a difference in his or her life, and also to one who made life miserable for a short time. Why? Because the teacher-student relationship is at the heart of teaching. As Rita Pierson noted in her famous TED talk, “Kids aren’t going to learn from someone they don’t like.”

But what is a positive teacher-student relationship? Here are some examples based on research that asks both teachers and students what makes this relationship so special:

For Teachers: According to educators, a positive relationship with a student is close and supportive, but not overly dependent. A teacher who cares about his or her students believes that every child can learn, but differently and at different rates, sets high expectations, is warm and trusting, and strives to keep the relationship conflict-free. He or she also uses humor and admits mistakes, sets clear boundaries, and is open, honest, and approachable.

For Students: Students told researchers that good teachers listen to and take a personal interest in students’ lives. They show respect, value the individuality of each student, and are kind and polite. A caring teacher gives honest, but kind feedback, and offers second chances. They help students with schoolwork, manage the classroom well, and, perhaps most importantly, they plan fun activities.

For Higher Education: At the college level, students prefer professors who are approachable—they say “hi” on campus, smile often, and stay after class to talk to students. They also set high expectations, are fair, honest, trustworthy, respectful, open, supportive, and encouraging.

Why Cultivate Them?

Decades of research clearly show that positive teacher-student relationships are extremely important for student outcomes in all categories—feelings, attitudes, behavior, and achievement—and at all ages.

Students do better overall with caring teachers.

  • Studies have found that for students from pre-K to 12, positive student-teacher relationships increase engagement, motivation, prosocial—kind and helpful—behavior, and academic achievement.

Seeing students as individuals is key to their well-being and success.

  • When teachers use practices that are sensitive to students’ individual differences and needs and that also include student voice, their students tend to be more motivated and show higher academic achievement; they also feel better about school, participate more, and show less disruptive behavior across grade levels.

Negative student-teacher relationships can have long-lasting impact.

  • Conflict-ridden relationships with teachers in kindergarten predict worse grades, work habits, and discipline problems into late elementary or even middle school.

Relationships matter at every age.

  • In preschool and kindergarten: When their relationships with teachers are more emotionally supportive and less conflictual, preschool students become more socially and academically competent; similar effects occur for kindergarteners.
  • In elementary and middle school, close, positive student-teacher relationships are associated with greater student engagement in learning and better social and behavioral outcomes in general, including less risky behavior.
  • In high school, students who connect with their teachers are less likely to engage in risky behavior, including substance abuse, sexual activity, and suicide.
  • In university, students are less likely to drop out, and they show more commitment, engagement, effort, intellectual development, and academic achievement.

Teachers, too, benefit from good relationships with their students.

  • They experience the joy of teaching, helping to maintain their commitment to the profession by preventing burnout.

Practice Collections

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Practices

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

2 x 10: Getting to Know A Student

Build positive relationships with students in 2 minutes a day.

PreK/Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School

≤ 15 minutes

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

A Moment for Me: A Self-Compassion Break for Teens

Students learn how to comfort themselves during stressful times.

Middle School, High School

≤ 15 minutes

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Check for Understanding Circle

Use the Circle process to encourage students to safely and respectfully share their level of understanding on an academic topic.

Middle School, High School, College

≤ 30 minutes

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Common Beliefs Survey: Teaching Racially and Ethnically Diverse Students

Teachers examine 13 specific beliefs about ethnically diverse students, reflect on those beliefs and outline action steps for better serving their students.

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Designing the Classroom to Promote Kindness 

Students provide input on changes that could be made to the classroom to subtly cue kind behavior.

PreK/Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School

≤ 30 minutes

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Dialogue Journals for Elementary Students

Teachers and students converse with each other through letter writing.

PreK/Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary

≤ 1 hour

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Dialogue Journals for High School Students

Teachers and students converse with each other through writing.

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Dialogue Journals for Middle School Students

Teachers and students converse with each other through writing.

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Dimensions of Difference and Similarity Reflection

Teachers reflect on and discuss the various dimensions and impact of their identities on their relationships with students and their families.

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Family Business

Teachers and students create a safe space to develop strong relationships.

PreK/Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School

≤ 15 minutes

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Giving Wise Feedback

A simple way to build students’ academic mindset, trust, and positive identity.

Middle School, High School, College

≤ 15 minutes

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Honesty Commitment for Students

Strategies to encourage and help students practice honesty

PreK/Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary

≤ 15 minutes

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

I See You. Everyone Matters.

Acknowledge the faces of everyone in your classroom or meeting to deepen a sense of group connection.

High School, College, Adult

≤ 15 minutes

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Imagining Flourishing and Kindness: A Mindfulness Practice for Adults

Mentally cultivate kindness toward yourself and consider how you might be of service to others

College, Adult

≤ 15 minutes

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Kindness Art for Students

Making art about kindness inspires students to be caring and generous.

PreK/Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary

≤ 15 minutes

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Looking for Gratitude in School

Students walk silently around school, noticing people they are grateful for and telling them so.

PreK/Lower Elementary

≤ 1 hour

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Loving-Kindness for Adults

Mentally cultivate kindness toward yourself and others.

College, Adult

≤ 15 minutes

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Loving-Kindness for Someone You Care About

Students mentally send good wishes to someone who is important to them.

Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School

≤ 15 minutes

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Mindful Reflection Process for Developing Culturally Responsive Practices

Teachers engage in a mindful reflection process that creates space for checking their assumptions about student behavior.

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Mindfully Creating Positive Relationships with Students

A short practice for mindfully exploring your emotional experience when you help a student

PreK/Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, College, Adult

≤ 15 minutes

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Modeling SEL for Students

Staff members brainstorm how they will intentionally model SEL in their interactions with students.

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Music to Inspire Kindness

Make music together to encourage generosity and helping behavior in young children.

PreK/Lower Elementary

≤ 15 minutes

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Overcoming Obstacles to an Open Heart

School staff discuss what opens and closes their hearts in the classroom using Focused Listening and Speaking with each other.

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Pleasant Events Calendar for Students

Help students plan enjoyable activities as a form of self-care

Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, College

≤ 15 minutes

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Quotes and Sayings: A Contemplative Practice

Observe how time and contemplation can influence your ability to gain important insights about your work.

College, Adult

≤ 30 minutes

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Reading Ourselves Whole: A Contemplative Choral Reading Method

Lead a brief choral reading practice that fosters community and connection.

High School, College, Adult

≤ 15 minutes

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Reflecting on SEL Skills

Students discuss the SEL skills touched upon during the activity in which they have just participated.

PreK/Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School

≤ 15 minutes

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Standing Up Against Discrimination

Students explore real-world examples to help them identify peaceful ways to respond to discrimination.

High School

Multiple Sessions

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Supporting SEL at Grade-Level or Content Area Team Meetings

Discussion prompts that guide teachers to reflect and collaborate on effective SEL implementation.

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Sustaining an Open Heart

Staff members explore the connection between healthy boundaries and an open heart in order to maintain caring relationships.

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Thank You for Believing in Me

Students learn how to think gratefully. (Gratitude for Tweens and Teens Lesson 4)

Middle School, High School

≤ 1 hour

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

The SEL 3 Signature Practices

A tool for fostering a supportive and equitable classroom and school environment and for promoting SEL.

PreK/Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, College, Adult

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Understanding Justice

Teachers unearth stereotypes and examine privilege while reflecting on the impact of systemic discrimination.

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Understanding Prejudice Through Paper Plate Portraits

Students identify others' assumptions about them and then describe who they really are on the inside.

PreK/Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary

≤ 1 hour

Explain why there should be a positive and useful teacher student rapport

Where We Stand

Students examine how they face everyday moral dilemmas and consider who and what influences their reactions when conflicts arise.

Upper Elementary, Middle School

≤ 1 hour

“The core of education is the relationship between the teacher and the student, and the extent to which that relationship nurtures the longing of the child to matter in the world, and the longing of the teacher to nurture and fulfill that desire.”

Why is it important to have a good rapport?

When you have a rapport with someone, you're better placed to influence, learn and teach, particularly as the trust that you've built up means other people are more likely to accept your ideas, to share information, and to create opportunities together.

How do you establish rapport or positive teacher

Tips for Rapport-Building.
Learn to call your students by name..
Learn something about your students' interests, hobbies, and aspirations..
Create and use personally relevant class examples..
Arrive to class early and stay late -- and chat with your students..
Explain your course policies -- and why they are what they are..

What is rapport between teacher and students?

Teacher-student rapport is a close bond between instructors and learners that enables them to work jointly in classroom contexts (Culpeper and Kan, 2020). As put forward by Weimer (2010), valuing students' ideas and viewpoints is a key to build a strong rapport with them.

Why Positive values are important to teachers?

It enables teacher to not just be colleagues, but to also be friends, improving the mood in the school environment. When people are kind to one another, they work better together and so kindness is such an important quality when entering the world of education.