Topic: Relationships

Positive Teacher-Student Relationships

What is the Teacher’s role?        

What is the Student’s role?

   Everyone can point to a teacher who made a difference in his or her life, and also to one who made life miserable for a short time. Why? Because the teacher-student relationship is at the heart of teaching. As Rita Pierson noted in her famous TED talk, “Kids aren’t going to learn from someone they don’t like.” But what is a positive teacher-student relationship? 

   In John Hattie’s “Visible Learning” book, he synthesized 800 meta-analyses relating to achievement. He found that numerous student-teacher relationship variables were among the most influential factors on student performance. These include empathy, warmth, encouragement, authenticity, and respect for student backgrounds.

   With the push for a holistic education (mind, body…), students have the opportunity to contribute to the educational environment. High school and college students have the opportunity to verbally raise the level of consciousness in the classroom. Bringing a positive attitude (in deeds and words) plays an important role for both parties. Everyone in the classroom positively contributes to the educational process. 

   Hattie said, “It is teachers who have created positive teacher-student relationships who are more likely to have above average effects on student achievement.”

   Here are some examples based on research that asks both teachers and students, what makes this relationship so special:

   For Teachers: According to educators, a positive relationship with a student is close and supportive, but not overly dependent. A teacher who cares about his or her students believes that every child can learn, but differently and at different rates, sets high expectations, is warm and trusting, and strives to keep the relationship conflict-free. He or she also uses humor and admits mistakes, sets clear boundaries, and is open, honest, and approachable.

   For Students: Students told researchers that good teachers listen to and take a personal interest in students’ lives. They show respect, value the individuality of each student, and are kind and polite. A caring teacher gives honest, but kind feedback, and offers second chances. They help students with schoolwork, manage the classroom well, and, perhaps most importantly, they plan fun activities.

   Good students do their work on time, pay attention in class, and help others in class. Good students always enhance the conversation with the teacher, and with students.

   For Higher Education: At the college level, students prefer professors who are approachable—they say “hi” on campus, smile often, and stay after class to talk to students. They also set high expectations, are fair, honest, trustworthy, respectful, open, supportive, and encouraging.

   “The core of education is the relationship between the teacher and the student, and the extent to which that relationship nurtures the longing of the child to matter in the world, and the longing of the teacher to nurture and fulfill that desire.” –Timothy Shriver and Jennifer Buffet

https://ggie.berkeley.edu/school-relationships/positive-teacher-student-relationships/

   Greater Good in Education (GGIE)

https://tuiopay.com/blog/6-keys-to-building-positive-student-teacher-relationships/

   TUIO is an online tuition management system for schools and other childcare businesses.

MoundTan.com

   An education, real estate, and music company.

SOLVE          

Students Obtaining Leadership Values Effectively              

Topic: Relationships        

Positive Teacher-Student Relationships

What is the Student’s role?

Role Playing

Peer and Teacher

Peer to Peer

4 role playing models

1 Mad Teacher-Apethetic Student

2 Mad Teacher-Postive Student

3 Good Peer-Negative Peer

4 Good Peer-Positive Peer

Share stories