Strong teacher-student relationships improve students’ academic achievement, increase cooperation and prosocial behavior, and factor into students’ decisions to stay in school and graduate. 

When students feel that their teachers care about them, want the best for them, and have confidence in their abilities, students thrive in the classroom. 

Some students can be more difficult to reach, but these are the students who will need and benefit more from building a strong, caring teacher-student relationship from the start of the school year.