Communicating with Students
Be aware of your own tendencies. If you are a task-oriented person who tends to prioritize tasks over people, make sure that in your zeal to do all the things necessary to give your students a quality education you aren’t missing their hearts
Practical ways to relate to students:
Greet your students at the door in the morning—look each student in the eye and greet them by name as they enter the classroom
Allow time for students to tell their stories—let your students talk about the things that are important to them (while still having limits to ensure you aren’t wasting a lot of class time)
Write notes to your students—praise a student for something positive you noticed or encourage a way you’ve seen them working hard recently
Be interested in the things that interest your students—put effort into learning about their hobbies and interests
Pay attention to your students’ moods and emotions. Pause if a “fine” response feels off and be willing to listen to what’s going on in your students’ lives.
Sources
Relational Practices for Task-Oriented Teachers by Rosalie Beiler Relational Practices for Task-Oriented Teachers - The Dock for Learning
Relating to Students 2.0 by Jeff Swanson Relating to Students 2.0 - The Dock for Learning
