Building Relationships

What: 

Building relationships in schools involves fostering trust, communication, and mutual respect among students, teachers, and staff to create a supportive and collaborative learning environment.

Why:

Building relationships in school is essential because it boosts student engagement and creates a supportive learning environment. Strong relationships also improve communication and collaboration, aiding both academic and personal growth.

How:

• Greeting students by their name each day: Calling students by their name makes them feel recognized and valued, which fosters a sense of belonging and trust

• Holding regular check-ins: Brief, one-on-one conversations with students about their well-being and progress show that you care about their personal and academic lives, strengthening the teacher-student bond. Here's an example of a check in form done online. 

• Incorporating collaborative activities: Group projects or discussions encourage students to work together, promoting teamwork and peer connections, which enhances the classroom community.

Specific Strategy: 2x10 Conversations

• • Goal: Incorporate 2x10 Relationship Building Conversations

  • Context: Educators (or school leaders) select a student and for 2 minutes a day, 10 days in a row, they engage in a brief conversation with that same student.

  • Instructions: 

    • Choose one student who you would like to strengthen your relationship with.

    • Find this student and open a conversation with them for 2 minutes for 10 consecutive days.

    • The content of your conversation should not relate to the student’s schoolwork or behavior.