Phil Harrison Coaching

Quality teacher-student relationships are essential in schools, and as such they must be tended to in order to be healthy. In the book Every Connection Matters: How to Build, Maintain, and Restore Relationships Inside the Classroom and Out, authors Michael Creekmore and Nita Creekmore provide the following suggestions related to teacher-student relationship (pp. 39-43):

1. Let students tell you their story. “Show and tell” never gets old regardless of the age of the student. Allowing them to tell their story helps us get to know them better. 
2. Practice active listening. Close the laptop and look students in the eyes. Give them your undivided attention in the classroom. The more you make an effort to do this, the more you will connect with your students. 
3. Work together to set expectations. Your students want to have some voice in the classroom. Encourage their voice from the very beginning. Invite students to participate in setting classroom expectations. I’ve done this with students in all grades, and I’m always amazed by how high they set expectations for themselves!
4. Check in and reflect. Building relationships is an ongoing process. Make the effort to touch base with students regularly and self-assess your effort. Remove barriers to connection as much as possible. 
5. Collaborate with other teachers. Ask others how they are connecting with students. Brainstorming with other professionals can benefit everyone in the relationship, teacher and student alike. 
6. Dedicate time. Appropriate teacher-student relationships don’t happen in a single moment. They take time to develop. Give the process time and give everyone some grace. 
7. Have one-on-one conversations. Have authentic and open conversations with students when a little restoration is in order. 
8. Apologize when needed. While not a suggestion from the authors, I personally like what author Mark Batterson says about words. He notes that the three most important words we know should be please, thanks, and sorry. A genuine apology goes a long way. 
9. Collaborate with a student’s family. When you need suggestions about how to connect with a student, the student’s family is a great resource. Don’t be afraid to reach out to them for help. 

As you prepare for the week ahead, think of ways that you can further foster great teacher-student relationships. You and your students will be glad you made the effort!