Lift

Rapport  When students know that we sincerely care about them and their needs, they are far more likely to tolerate a poor situation and continue to maintain high levels of motivation and learning in our classrooms. Teaching Tips 2005 Peak Learning Systems  Enthusiasm is contagious – don’t try to teach without it! Do what it takes to be full of energy and excitement for your students – as a person and for your content. Students tend to feel better and work harder when they are around others who are excited and enthusiastic – but it MUST be real. Use pep talks, excited words, peppy music, and cheers.

How do you build rapport?  Greet your students at the door  Say good morning, good afternoon, nice to see you  Smile!  Offer notes of appreciation  Allow students to “borrow” personal artifacts  Play their music occasionally  Acknowledge a personal imperfection  Thank them for cooperating even before they have  Notice and acknowledge personal things about their life  Have the student give the teacher a positive note Developing Personal Connections

 Do the “2 X 10.” Think of a student you find it difficult to be complimentary to. Make a commitment to invest two uninterrupted, undivided minutes a day for 10 consecutive days to “relationship build.” During these two minutes, you cannot do or say anything related to correcting the student’s behavior or telling the student what he must do differently to be successful in class.  Use the 4H method. Think about which students you know the least and greet these students daily with one of four welcoming “H’s”: handshake, high five, “how are you?”, or “hello”. Connecting with Students by Allen N. Mendler

Focus on the Positive  Many people including students sense when others don’t like them or agree with them on an issue that is important to them. When a student senses dislike or disagreement from us, there is a strong chance the student’s motivation to perform in our classroom will drop rapidly.  Tricks to help with this- find anything likeable about the student at that moment even if it is that you like the color of his or her socks or shoestrings.

Be Spontaneous  To lift your students up be spontaneous about giving them little pick me up notes or notes of appreciation on occasion.  Your smile is contagious today!  That was really polite and courteous of you to say excuse me  “I like it when you come to school ready to learn. I can tell you are ready to learn because you have your pencil and paper out and are looking right at me.”  “Wow, you look bright eyed and bushy tailed today!”

Roll up a note and wrap it around a treat! Give a fruit snack or an eraser with a message! Smiles for Smiles – You always brighten my day when you enter into the classroom or group with a smile on your face! You are such a joy to be around when you raise your hand and share your ideas, thoughts, and questions.

Your Turn  Using the chart paper on your table, please take 3-4 minutes to brainstorm and write down some specific positive remarks that you say or could say to your students. Remember that these need to be specific, come naturally and be true!  After 3-4 minutes I will ask that one person from each group share out.

Celebrate!  Celebrate daily and celebrate the littlest of things  When students come to group quickly  When all eyes are on you  When a student raises his/her hand  When they dismiss and push in chair  When all students participate  When a student takes a risk  When a student puts something away in the correct place  When a student comes to school on time Yes, also remember to celebrate academics but remember that you are always building a rapport and connection with each and every student on a daily basis.

Connecting with Students “Connecting with students means that we must sometimes separate our personal beliefs, judgments, and moral standards from our responsibility to feel compassion and concern for those we find different or perhaps even personally unacceptable. Each of us is an adult who is free to choose friends and avoid people whom we find unappealing. Yet each of us is also an educator; within that role, we do not have the luxury of deciding which kids are worthwhile and which are not.” ALL STUDENTS ARE WORTHWHILE! Connecting with Students by Allen N. Mendler

Questions?