As educators, we must work to develop and maintain effective relationships. Relationships with students, coworkers, managers and even the public.
These relationships are vital for the success of our schools. All relationships are important in the school business from our relationship to other instructors, the students, the administration and even the community. Over the next few weeks, we will look at each one individually.
One of the most important relationships we have in school is our relationship to the student. Students are the reason we exist.
Our mission is to educate the students. Students aren’t going to learn from an educator they don’t get along with or one they don’t respect. We must build effective relationships with our students, earn their trust and build a rapport with them.
Before we go any farther, I want to make clear what kind of relationship we are talking about here. We are not talking about being their BFF. We aren’t talking about hanging out with them and going out with them after hours. That is fraternization and it leads to nothing but problems as an educator.
Our role is to be a teacher, mentor, coach. We can be friendly without being their friend.
To create that professional relationship with our leaners, be genuinely interested in them. Know what their goals area, what their dreams are. Then you can help guide them to those dreams.
Just because you are the educator, that doesn’t mean you have to do all the talking. Ask them their thoughts on a subject, ask them what they want to learn about, ask them how they would solve a problem. Be willing to learn from them as well.
Ask your students how you can serve them better and then be open to what they say. Some requests may not be something you can do, but you never know, some request can be easily delivered on.
When you get feedback from your students be willing to adjust in teaching techniques in order to meet their needs.
We must understand how they learn. The best way to know that is to ask them. What do they enjoy doing? What are their goals?
What can you do to build your relationship with your students?