How to Build A Relationship with Your Students
Research shows that students learn better from teachers that they like. If you think about it, it makes sense. If you don’t like your instructor, you probably are not going to be as open to the information that they are sharing. Not every student is going to like you, and it is not our job to be their best friend. But if you can build an appropriate relationship with your students you will create a more positive classroom environment where more learning will happen.
Build a Relationship by Asking Questions
Students will feel like you care about them if you are curious about their life. On a Monday morning, ask them what their favorite part of the weekend was. If they tell you something about their life, ask them questions about it. This is a good tool not just for students but with any relationship in your life. If you are asking people about themselves, it shows that you are curious and they will know that you care enough to learn about them.
Be Compassionate
When a student is misbehaving in your class, it is easy to get frustrated and dish out consequences. But, is there something else in their life causing the change in behavior. That student that is falling asleep in your class may have a baby in the family that is keeping them up at night. That student that isn’t doing their homework may be going home to a setting that has a lot of yelling and they can’t concentrate. If you try to get to know your students and they begin to confide in you, you will see that there is more to every story. Be compassionate to your students and they will acknowledge this and it will help build a positive relationship.
Learn Students’ Names
This seems like an obvious one, but I work in a middle school where each teacher can see up to 150 students per day. It can be challenging to learn all of those students’ names but putting in the effort will make a huge difference. I find that something simple like playing a name game makes it significantly easier to commit all of their names to memory. Students may not notice if you learn their name, but they will definitely notice if you DON’T know their name.
Share Some of Your Life
I mean, I’m not telling you to share your deepest darkest secrets or your current dating escapades with your students. But sharing little things about your life with your students can make them feel like they know you better and can help them open up to you. Share with them about family, or your pets, or about hobbies that you have. My students usually learn pretty quickly about my Red Sox obsession or my odd fascination with turtles.
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