5 Ways to Develop Positive Relationships with Students
It's only in the guidance of the best teachers that you see an exponential growth in the learning potential of a student. Such teachers understand that the only way a student would reach their true potential is if they're given an environment that's positive, challenging, and at the same time, engaging. Building healthy and trusting relationships with your students is taxing and time-consuming, but its not impossible. All great teachers have taken the time to master idea.
"The first impression is the last impression" isn't just a saying when you're in a classroom space. Gaining a student's trust during the early days of their school year is essential, as a lot will be conveyed to the student without you ever knowing. While this may come naturally to a few teachers, many out there struggle to find the right strategies to implement in their classrooms. This deficiency, thankfully, can be overcome by implementing 5 simple strategies in your class on a daily basis.
The Importance of Structure
While you may think otherwise, most students respond positively to a well-defined structure in their classroom. It doesn't make them feel lost, but this step helps a teacher to build an environment that's both safe and energetic. When any object lacks structure, it breaks or falls into a hundred pieces. So is the case when you talk about education in the classroom. Teachers that lack structure find it harder to reach their students, therefore losing valuable instructional time and respect. It is imperative for a teacher to set the tone of the class and the subject they are to teach. What also matters is that you take the necessary action when a boundary has been overstepped. Structure provides students and teachers minimal downtime; each day should be loaded with engaging learning activities with little to no downtime.
Teach It Like You Mean It
When you're too rigid and focused about your structure of your subject, you forget how to love what you do. Being enthusiastic about the day's lesson, or narrating interesting facts, studies and theories that are ready to blow their minds, is how you tackle this. You may love what you do, but the people listening to you, or noticing you on your job need to feel the same way too. Being passionate and energetic encourages students to become enthusiastic. Energy and happiness are viral; when you're able to give off some bit of positivity and enthusiasm in the lectures you teach, why won't it rub off on the children you teach?
Laugh, and spread it generously
Never let the classroom environment become boring. Everyone loves a good laugh, so including a few jokes (or even puns) while you teach would surely do a lot to help the attention span of your children. It could be making fun of yourself when you make a mistake, or getting in character and voicing them the way you would expect them to sound like. Since humor comes in many forms, students would love to interact and attend your classes, even if the world was to come to a hold.
Your Students Interests Matter
Every student sitting in your class is unique in one way or another. Knowing what gets them interested and excited and trying to incorporate them in your classroom will make you every kids favorite teacher. Conducting surveys are an interesting way to know more about the minds you teach, and asking for their honest feedback will help you reach your goal faster. Teachers that take the time to do this little exercise have seen increased participation, higher involvement, and overall increase in learning. When students see you going the extra mile to see them happy, their appreciation for you will be shown through their increased engagement in the classroom.
After Class-Hours Matter
It isn't just school that these kids attend. Extra curricular activities are meant to keep a student busy and active. It encourages a student when you inquire about their life outside the classroom - their favorite sport, the activities they attend, and the time they spend in them. What could also help strengthen your bond with your students is if you attend a few of their games or competitions and show them your support. Encourage your students to pursue their passion and interests by turning them into career choices. By knowing your students lives off school grounds, be considerate when assigning homework.
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