Connection is more important than you think. It's why we at Fortis encourage the 2x10. The video above is a great example of connecting with students and that connection having an educational benefit.
You never know if the small things you do to promote a community in class will have a big impact on your students. The other day my daughter came home from school and was playing school with her toys. She told me "I have to have my morning meeting, don't worry it's lesson planned." Clearly her class has morning meetings and somewhere along the line she has heard about lesson planning. Kids pick up on the things we say and do. Every moment matters.
Research shows that routines matter to the mind. This helps students know what is coming for their day. Research also tells us that starting and ending days with something positive and engaging encourages and creates positive connections.
We all would rather be greeted with a smile not a scowl.
We all would like a sweet good-bye not a sour one.
Building relationships matters to our students and the more you engage in this practice the more it will matter to you.
Below is a link to some great ways to connect with our students. If you notice we already talked about number one.
Let's highlight a couple of the ideas from the article.
Getting to know non-school related things about your students. Asking favorite ice cream, food, sport, hobby, etc. Ask about favorite music, song, animal, or show to watch. Just get to know them as a person. This lets the student know that you see them as more than another filled seat to teach.
Walk and talk. This is great especially for boys. Research shows that boys are more likely to be closed off and quiet if they are sitting and looking at the person talking. I love to start with a walk. It's side-by-side, not face to face. No eye contact needed. Walking increases blood flow to the brain. Walking is a great mindfulness activity and has been used as a type of therapy. It is a great way to calm and steady a student and encourage openness.
Listen. Just listen. Not all of our students go home to a house filled with adults willing or able to sit and listen. And kids like to talk. Just listen. No advice. No sharing. Just listening. This shows them they have your attention, you care about what they have to say, and they are important.
Edutopia has a great read on evidence based ways to connect with students.
At the start the information shares that students need a clean slate. While the article talks about the first day of school, this can apply to any student at anytime. Think about a student who is returning to class after a buddy room, PAR, or OSS. They need a clean slate.
Number four is a great idea too. Banking time. Again, much like our video, this one suggests that when you invest in a student as a person, educational benefits will be noticeable. I liked the words they used, telling us to balance relationship and rigor.
Number six reflects a topic we have talked about in the past. Be the calm in their chaos. Do not meet chaos with more chaos. They need your calm. Emotions are contagious. Be the calm you want them to catch. When you work to build a relationship you want to be a calm person that can be relied on.
As we wrap up week 5 of school it is not too late to make connections. It is never too late to make a connection. Start today with a class meeting, a walk with a student, a 2x10, listening, fresh start, banking time, etc.
Connection matters. Every moment matters.
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