Introduction
I believe that teachers who foster relationships with their students have a big impact on them. Speaking from personal experiences, to this day I still keep in contact with those teachers and coaches who went out of their way to learn who I was as a person and not just as a student. Those teachers who kept tabs on me and made sure that I was okay mentally were the ones who became my favorites. I could talk to them and knew I was safe and heard. Because of those teachers I have three activities/resources I would like to use in my classroom that will help me foster relationships with my students are: student surveys, greeting students at the door, and having a pride wall.
Student Surveys
Student surveys can be used in a variety of ways. I can use them to learn about my students’ likes and dislikes inside and outside of the classroom. If I have a handful of students who don’t learn well from lecturing, I can tailor my lessons to include group work and YouTube videos. This way my students won’t have to hear only my voice for however long class may be and they can discuss what they learned with their peers. Doing this allows students to see different perspectives of the lesson they may have missed. I could also use the surveys to see how my students are feeling mentally and physically. If my students are having a bad day I will know if I need to take a minute and just let them breathe instead of forcing their heads back into more textbooks. Lastly, I can use these surveys to get intel on what I am doing right and what I am doing wrong as a teacher. This will help me better understand what my students want from me and my class.
Greeting Students at the Door
By greeting my students at the door, it allows me to read their body language as they come in. If my students just came from gym class and appear to be tired I know not to start my lesson with dancing. Instead, I would start by allowing my students to come in and just talk or come in to a bell ringer that may be a review of the lesson from the day prior. Also, by greeting my students at the door I can properly greet each one of them. This creates a positive teacher and student relationship. Studies have shown a 27 percent increase in engagement when students are greeted positively when entering the classroom (Terada, 2018). This in all creates for a better environment.
Pride Wall
In my classroom I want to have a wall of student achievements. A student getting published in the newspaper or getting accepted into college are reasons to celebrate. So as a teacher I should be celebrating my students. My classroom shouldn’t be all about getting the material learned. I should make my students feel appreciated and that their outside activities are just important as well. Many students fail to feel validated by their teachers because they believe the only thing their teacher wants is for them to go to college and get an education. This is not true in my case and I feel as though my students should follow whatever dream they have their heart set on. I will make sure that I support my students in everything, in and out of the classroom, they do.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I believe that student surveys, greeting students at the door, and having a pride wall are ways that I as a teacher can better my relationship with my students. These things allow me to get to know them on a more personal level. Doing this encourages my students to trust me and encourages a more positive learning environment.
Resources
Terada, Y. (2018, September 11). Welcoming students with a smile. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/welcoming-students-smile.