When teachers make an intentional effort to get to know each of their students, it can foster in students a sense of belonging and connection to school—which can then build a foundation for academic success.
Positive teacher-student relationships lead to increased cooperation and engagement in the classroom. They also contribute to a welcoming, inclusive school climate that promotes equity, social and emotional learning and improved student outcomes.
But how can teachers reach all their students—including students from cultural backgrounds different from their own? Here are a few strategies based on research and my experiences working with educators in Oregon and across the country:
Know Your Own Perspectives
Think deeply about your own attitudes and beliefs and how they may impact your opinions and actions. Our cultural background influences how we interpret situations and communicate, as well as the choices we make. An important element of culturally responsive communication is understanding how your views affect the way you interpret what students say and do.
Build Relationships with Each Student
Positive learning environments and engaging instruction help all students achieve success. Caring and emotionally supportive classrooms are particularly important for students who have had challenging life and/or school experiences.
Caring teachers...
- Show interest in students’ welfare
- Respect students’ perspectives
- Tell students they can succeed
- Know students’ academic and social needs
- Recognize students’ academic and social achievements
Use and Model Perspective-taking and Empathy
The way students interpret their interactions with their teacher can have a lasting impact. Perspective-taking (putting yourself in a student’s shoes) can help you recognize each student’s strengths. In addition, it will lead to a deeper understanding of the daily challenges they experience.
Watch this video from Race Forward to hear students describe their experiences with implicit bias.
Perspective-taking also involves learning about students’ beliefs, attitudes and dreams; how they react in different situations; and their communication style. Educators who seek to understand their students’ perspectives are more likely to avoid misunderstandings that harm relationships.
Here are a few key things to remember when practicing perspective-taking:
- Show genuine interest in your students and let them know that getting to know each of them as an individual is important.
- Ask students about their opinions, interests and background.
- Listen to what students say as if you might be wrong.
- Be intentional in your efforts to learn how students view different situations.
- Use nonjudgmental, solution-focused problem-solving.
You can also check out my REL Northwest blog post, as well as this video and infographic, for more information on perspective-taking.
Set a high bar for each student
Cultivating caring relationships is important, but educators also need to have high expectations for all students. We must also convince students that they can learn and succeed. According to Yeager and Walton, “small” social-psychological interventions that focus on changing students’ thoughts, feelings, and beliefs in and about school can lead to large gains in student achievement for each and every student.
FAQs
Positive and Caring Relationships with Teachers are Critical to Student Success. When teachers make an intentional effort to get to know each of their students, it can foster in students a sense of belonging and connection to school—which can then build a foundation for academic success.
Are positive and caring relationships with teachers critical to student success? ›
Solely improving students' relationships with their teachers will not produce gains in achievement. However, those students who have close, positive and supportive relationships with their teachers will attain higher levels of achievement than those students with more conflict in their relationships.
Why is it important for students and teachers to have a positive relationship? ›
Strong relationships provide a foundation for student engagement, belonging, and, ultimately, learning. The more high-quality relationships students have with their teachers, the better their engagement in school.
Why is it important to have positive relationships with people at school? ›
Prioritizing positive relationships in schools among students, teachers, and other adults is one of the best ways to improve student outcomes in many areas — not only do positive relationships in schools often lead to better academic performance from students, but they also promote healthy development in many other ...
Why is it important that teachers attempt to build strong positive student teacher relationships? ›
The positive interactions between teachers and students, which help build relationships, act as a safeguard for some students who may have difficult relationships in their personal lives (CCYP, 2018). These interactions enable them to have better engagement outcomes at school (CCYP, 2018).
Why are positive relationships important? ›
Proven links include lower rates of anxiety and depression, higher self-esteem, greater empathy, and more trusting and cooperative relationships. Strong, healthy relationships can also help to strengthen your immune system, help you recover from disease, and may even lengthen your life.
Why is it critical for student success that teachers have a good relationship with each child's parents? ›
The partnership between parents and teachers impacts a child's academic and personal development in many ways: Enhanced Student Self-Esteem: A strong partnership between parents and teachers gives children a supportive network, reinforcing their sense of worth and confidence.
What are the benefits of positive relationships in the classroom? ›
Positive relationships build motivation.
This creates a cycle. You provide positive feedback. The student's brain releases dopamine. The student feels good and is motivated to feel that way again.
What is a positive relationship between teachers? ›
Positive relationships among staff and teachers are also crucial for creating a supportive school community. When colleagues have strong, positive relationships, they can better support one another and work together to create a positive learning environment for students and reduce staff or teacher stress.
Why teacher relationships with other teachers are important? ›
Building strong professional relationships with other educators and yourself is important because it helps us feel more psychologically safe with one another and builds a collegial trust and assurance that we can rely on one another. Everyone needs to feel safe when discussing highly charged topics around equity.
The importance of positive teacher–student relationships
They can improve student self-confidence, academic performance and mutual respect between the two parties. A positive relationship often has open communication where teachers actively listen to their students and encouragingly provide feedback and guidance.
How do teachers positively impact students? ›
Teachers help students develop and grow into well-rounded young adults. They help children learn how to socialize appropriately and demonstrate respect. The social and emotional learning that takes place in the classroom is critical for an individual's future.
How does the student teacher relationship affect academic performance? ›
Positive teacher-student relationships boost academic motivation, trust, and participation, creating a conducive learning environment. Negative interactions, on the other hand, can lead to student disengagement, poor academic achievement, and emotional discomfort, all of which impede overall growth.
Are positive student relationships fundamental to success? ›
“Positive student relationships are fundamental to success at school. When students feel supported, they're more likely to engage in learning, feel motivated and have better academic outcomes,” Dr. Russell said.
How does teacher-student relationship impact academic achievement? ›
Research has found that a positive teacher-student relationship can regulate students' mental emotions, improve students' participation in class, cultivate students' learning ability, and promote students' academic achievement and goals.
Why are academic relationships critical to your success? ›
Improved Academics
By discussing course material with faculty, you can deepen your knowledge and build your confidence as a learner and scholar. When faculty know more about your interests, they can tailor the information they give you and offer more specific feedback.
