As I walk in and out of classrooms, I notice the various teaching styles and relationships that teachers have with their students. The teachers who tend to get the most out of their students use best practices (consciously or subconsciously) and have a fairly good relationship with the majority of their students. I found an article about teacher rapport that I would like to share with you here. Let me know if teacher rapport is essential in being a happy successful teacher. If so, please share some steps you take to build rapport in your classroom community. To post a comment, please click on the word comments next to the envelope each post.
Article link: Student and Teacher Rapport: An Essential Element for Effective Teaching
I thought the article made sense. I think almost every teacher wants to build rapport, but it's a matter of doing it. For some people it comes natural, as they are a "people person" for others, it has to be conscious. Depending on the circumstances, it's hard to give when you never get anything in return. Some kids you bend over backwards for with kind words, chance after chance, and trying empathy and sympathy, but still, you can't get them to crack a book. After much of that, I admittedly stop trying as hard. No, I don't feel they are a lost cause, but I don't believe that everyone can reach all kids. We can each reach some. The key is to make yourself available in the end and make sure the kids know that you are available.
ReplyDeleteAli B, it is true that some kids are really difficult to build a relationship with. Sometimes, there are kids you just dislike. I was reading a book about education and they gave a an example of a teacher who had a kid who was giving her the blues. She found another kid who knew some things about the challenging student. She found out some key information about why the kid constantly acted out. She did research. Once she found the real problem, the kid was easier to reach and reason with. She spoke to him one-on-one and the relationship got better. It is often difficult to find the time to do that with many of our students, but I challenge teachers to do some research on at least the most challenging students. Stop by the home, talk to friends, or invite the student to have lunch with you in the media center one day. It may not work, but if it does.... It may save you (teachers in general) some headaches in the long run.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments
I think teacher rapport is essential to being an effective teacher. I wrote a manuscript about the subject while I was a graduate student.
ReplyDeleteEssentially my research showed that students, particularly African American students and students from low income backgrounds, need to feel that someone that represents the school cares about them in order for them to be more successful. That person didn't have to be a teacher or administrator....it could be a counselor, custodian, or any individual who represents the school.
Jovan,
ReplyDeleteYou ought to share your manuscript with the school community. It may seem like just something else for a teacher to read, but it may be just the thing someone is looking for to help them with a student. Have you used your research in your practice with any of your students?
I would love to build better rapport with my students. This article is general. Can you think of other things (unique to boys at BEST) that may help? Sometimes its like a "me" vs "them" situation. I'm so different from them: female, foreigner, much older - I have to find some commonality with them.
ReplyDeleteAlso Like Ali B said, with some children, you bend over backwards, and they give very little to nothing back.. no relationship can be sustained on a 95-5% give -take situation.