While building relationships with students can be difficult, sometimes confusing, and often time-consuming, it’s more than worth the results.
Elementary
How to Build Better Relationships with Students (4 Tips)
While building relationships with students can be difficult, sometimes confusing, and often time-consuming, it’s more than worth the results.
Students that have built great relationships with their teachers, and feel supported by them, are far more likely to succeed. Not to mention, they’re far more likely to be passionate about the things you teach them. Some of the best benefits of a great relationship with your students include the following:
- Better understanding and empathy when it comes to helping them achieve their goals and dreams
- Mutual respect on both sides, making learning easier
- A more enjoyable experience of school for everyone involved
In school, forming a great relationship with the students you teach is a win-win. According to ThoughtCo, not only does it help to maximize students’ learning potential, but it also provides them with safety and trust to allow them to grow and make mistakes. As such a crucial part of their lives, allowing for that support and respect is vital to help them to thrive. Creating those bonds is effortless for some teachers, but that isn’t quite true for the rest of us.
So, what can we do to build better relationships for those that can’t quite get there naturally? Here are four tips to get you started:
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1. Take time to get to know your students and be genuine
Forcing a relationship rarely works in any walk of life. So there’s no reason why the same wouldn’t apply to the classroom, too. Michele Rose, an experienced teacher and YouTuber finds that being genuine can pave the way to better relationships – and taking the time to get to know your students is essential. Sitting down with a student for one-on-one time can enable you to get to know them in an organic way – something that can’t be achieved with forced interaction.
2. Be consistent with structure and boundaries
Contrary to what children believe, students do best when they have specific structures and boundaries. In the case of the classroom, this means offering engaging learning experiences and a safe environment for students to learn. Gaining the respect of your students and a positive relationship with them needs a solid foundation. By setting boundaries and expectations, you’re providing that basis for growth.
3. Be positive, but be human
Often, it’s all too easy for teachers to go too far one way or another. Either you’re relentlessly cheerful, or you’re cynical and strict. Stop putting on an act with your students; they’ll soon appreciate your teaching and you as a person.
Positivity is always welcome, but forcing it doesn’t get anyone anywhere. Instead, focus on being approachable, personable, and a real person to your students, and your relationships will soon blossom.
4. Treat your students like individuals
With so many children to teach, it can be easy to think of your students as one entity. But each student has their likes, dislikes, and dreams. By getting to know your students and individuals, you can better connect with them. Knowing their favorite sport, most-loved color, or even their pets at home can be a great way to open conversation and show that you care.
Of course, you don’t need to know everything off the top of your head; keeping a few notes can be helpful in this process. But overall, treating your students as humans goes a long way toward earning their respect and making them interact with you more.
How do you engage with your students and build better relationships with your class?
