Building Quality Relationships
According to acclaimed education researcher John Hattie, “It is teachers who have created positive teacher-student relationships that are more likely to have the above average effects on student achievement.” Earlier this year, at the Positive Schools conferences, Charles Brunzell posed the question, “Is it your job to get your students to like you?” This is a question with many good answers. In short, when we foster positive connections with our students, they are more likely to feel positive about class and about school in general. They are also more willing to have a go at hard work, to risk making mistakes, and to ask for help when they need it. According to Rita Pierson in her great TED talk, “Kids…