Introduction
Strong relationships matter. From both a practical and personal perspective, we all know this to be true, but it can be challenging to put it into practice on a regular basis. Relationships take work and time.
When you emphasize strong relationships in your school and lead by example, the benefits can be enormous. This doesn’t just mean good teacher and student relationships either. It’s important to encourage good relationships on multiple levels, including teacher/admin, family/teacher, and student/teacher. If building a powerful culture and cultivating relationships are goals for you and your school, then you’ll be able to put many of these into practice right away.
Build strong relationships between teacher and student
Openly discuss relationships
One of the best ways to establish good relationships is to be willing to talk about what that means. You can use the Building Strong Relationships lesson plan and activity available for free right here to help you get started. Created to be complete in 15 minutes or less, it’s a perfect way to talk about relationships with your students. Get it here.
Let students know you hear them
When students know that you’re actually listening and hearing them, it makes a huge difference in your overall relationship. It’s easy for some students to be heard while others slip through the cracks, so make it a point to tell all students you want to hear them and how they can reach you.
Don’t lump all students together as one
It’s easy to fall in the trap of saying “no one is listening” or “no one did their work,” but these blanket statements are often frustrating to students. Don’t use group punishments or generalizations with your students if you can help it.
Talk about students’ interests
Teachers who take an interest in their students outside of day-to-day classroom work will always develop better relationships because they’re showing they care. Try to find ways to show interest in what your students do, especially if it’s someone you’ve been trying to connect with in a more meaningful way.
Give students a night off
One of the easiest ways you can gain appreciation from students, especially older ones, is to give them a break from time to time. If they had a good day in class or you worked a lot on any given day, acknowledge their hard work, and then give them a night off!
Fostering Inclusivity in Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
Delve into evidence-based strategies for building and implementing inclusive SEL programs. Essential for directors of counseling and counselors, this infographic elucidates how to integrate SEL interventions that engage all students, particularly those from marginalized groups.
This infographic is a tool to ensure SEL benefits are shared equitably, enhancing academic performance, mental health wellbeing, and reducing behavioral and attendance issues for all students.
Fostering Inclusivity in Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
Delve into evidence-based strategies for building and implementing inclusive SEL programs. Essential for directors of counseling and counselors, this infographic elucidates how to integrate SEL interventions that engage all students, particularly those from marginalized groups.
- Program Design: Highlights the application of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and the importance of addressing systematic barriers for students with disabilities.
- Program Development: Emphasizes culturally affirming programs and family involvement to enrich SEL.
- Program Implementation: Focuses on the role of teachers and the need for adult development in SEL programs.
- Program Research: Points out the impact of culture on emotional development and the value of culturally responsive pedagogy.
This infographic is a tool to ensure SEL benefits are shared equitably, enhancing academic performance, mental health wellbeing, and reducing behavioral and attendance issues for all students.
Build strong teacher and administrator relationships
Establish office hours
Office hours don’t have to be a thing of the past. Encourage admins to create and post office hours so teachers know when they can stop in for support. If your team organizes and communicates this well, it can be a lot more efficient for everyone.
Create a virtual suggestion box
Use a Google form or another simple, online tool to create a virtual suggestion box. Make it optional for people to leave their name so they are free to make suggestions at any given time. Be sure to check the suggestion box regularly, and bring up any issues during group meetings. This will encourage more people to use it.
Find ways to show appreciation
It’s important for staff to feel recognized on a regular basis, but only you know what works best. For some groups, that’ll be Friday coffee. For others, it’ll be verbal praise or recognition. If you want to show support but are short on time or resources, ask for support from parents.
Limit your asks
Teachers have so much going on, and they’re juggling a lot of demands—not just from a district level but from families, too. Everyone knows this, but it’s easy to forget. Be conscious of home much you’re asking of your staff, and don’t overdo it.
Have your teachers’ backs
One of the best ways to build a strong relationship with someone is to give them your respect and support. If they have a challenge in the classroom or even a complaint from a parent, find a way to give them support. Even if you have to recommend changes or adjustments, you can still show them support.
Help teens understand the importance of trust, respect and support in building rapport with a parent, coach, or teacher using this free lesson plan.
Build strong family and teacher relationships
Share students’ wins regularly
This might be the single biggest way teachers can establish good relationships with parents and guardians. Families love hearing about their student’s wins and successes. It can be hard to take the time to call, email, or write about them, but it can go a long way. You could even have students write down their own wins on little slips of paper to capture them in the moment.
Talk about what’s going on in your classroom
Parents and families enjoy hearing about the day-to-day activities in the classroom, even beyond what you’re learning or studying about. Don’t forget to share things like classroom goals, progress, and general life skills happening at school.
Building strong relationships means being a good listener
When you’re able to truly listen and hear a parent or family member, it often makes a big difference in the overall relationship. Remember they are trying to be advocates for their child, and so they really want to know that you are listening. This doesn’t mean you can’t offer opinions or feedback, but it’s important to show them they are heard.
Set goals in collaboration with parents
What goals do parents see as priorities for their kids? Is there a way to incorporate those into classroom goals as well? By collaborating with parents, you have the opportunity to work with them toward shared interests. Then hopefully, this will lead to reinforcement at home.
Try video
Video can be an easy and powerful way to connect with families. If you’re comfortable with it, try doing a video newsletter instead of a written one—families will love seeing you and the classroom. You could also try a live Q&A, setting a time each month or quarter where families can tune in to ask questions. Often, having a visual can be a good way to connect.
More on building strong relationships
Strong relationships in schools can lead to a powerful culture and better communication among teachers, students, and administrators. They also enhance the educational environment, making it more supportive and engaging for everyone involved.
The Building Strong Relationships lesson plan, designed to be completed in under 15 minutes, is a great tool for teachers to discuss relationship building with students. It provides structured activities and discussion points that make it easier to open up conversations about trust and respect.
Parents play a significant role in reinforcing educational goals by supporting their child’s learning at home. Effective communication between teachers and parents ensures that educational strategies are consistent, thus boosting student achievement and motivation.
Building strong relationships: Next steps
Fostering strong relationships within schools—between students, teachers, administrators, and families—is essential for creating a supportive and effective educational environment. By emphasizing open communication, individual recognition, and collaborative goal-setting, schools can enhance overall engagement, culture, and academic success. Implementing structured activities, maintaining open office hours for administrators, and regularly engaging with families are practical steps that can significantly benefit all members of the school community.
Ori Learning’s SEL curriculum provides a simple yet powerful framework for nurturing students’ emotional intelligence, social skills, and overall well-being. By understanding what SEL stands for and the benefits it provides, educators can create a supportive and inclusive learning environment that benefits students academically, emotionally, and socially. The integration of SEL into educational settings offers numerous advantages, including improved academic performance, the development of essential life skills, the fostering of positive relationships, and the promotion of a positive classroom climate.
