Teachers DO Make a Difference: The Teacher’s Guide to Connecting With Students

Teachers make a difference not only in what their students learn about content, but in what they learn about life! Closing the achievement gap and creating high-performing schools depends not on what we teach but how we teach. The most powerful and effective way teachers can help students overcome negative influences in their environment as well as succeed in becoming their best selves is by developing close and caring connections with them. Developing quality relationships with students is key to their healthy development. Teachers DO Make a Difference gives teachers strategies, guidelines, and real-life examples of how to build and enrich close and trusting teacher-student relationships. This important new resource covers key topics including: Setting high expectations for students Conveying confidence in student capabilities Creating classroom rituals and traditions Networking with family and community Developing strong interpersonal skills Identifying relational resources Communicating appropriate caring and respect in the classroom Healthy connections with teachers are associated with a decrease in behavioral problems and an increase in social and academic skills. The relationships we develop with our students are at the heart of how we make a difference.

Table of Contents:
Foreword - Bonnie Benard Preface About the Author 1. Our Changing Roles as Teachers Changing Student Needs and the Teacher′s Role Having Healthy Connections With Young People Is Key to Their Healthy Development Meeting Our Students′ Needs: The Caring Teacher Central Concerns for Caring Teachers 2. Making Healthy Connections With Students What We Do To Make a Difference How I Did the Study Meet the Teachers Different Ways We Can Make Healthy Connections With Students Creating One-to-One Time with Students Using Appropriate Self-Disclosure Having High Expectations of Students While Conveying a Belief in Their Capabilities Networking with Family and Friends Building a Sense of Community Among Students Providing Rituals and Traditions Summary of the Ways To Create Healthy Connections with Students 3. Communicating to Our Students That We Care Treating Students with Dignity and Respect The Ways We Show Respect to Students How Students Respond to Respectful Treatment Summary of How We Communicate Caring 4. What It Takes to Revitalize Ourselves How We Can Revitalize Ourselves Feeling Competent Generates Emotional Rewards Beliefs About the Role of Teacher and Teaching Personal Qualities That Enhance Connecting With Students Common Interpersonal Skills and Relational Resources that Enhance Connecting with Students Support of Family, Friends, and Professionals Summary of What It Takes to Revitalize Ourselves 5. Yeah, I Hear You, But... The Good News Responses to Concerns Concluding Thoughts Resources References Index