How to Connect With Students: Five Things to do to Show Your Students you Care

Do your students know that you want to be their teacher?

You might be asking, “Na’Keysha, what kind of question is that?” Think about it. We all say we’re in it for them, but what are we doing to show our students how much we genuinely care. Whether you are a new teacher or a veteran teacher improving how to connect with students is vital. Keep reading to learn how to connect with students and five ways to show your students you care.

Five Things to do to Show Your Students you Care:

• Listen to Your Students
• Follow-up
• Include them in class decisions 
• Bring a little piece of them into the class.
• Just tell them.

How to Connect With Students by Listening to Them

Giving students uninterrupted time to just share with you could make their day(and yours) brighter. Think about a time you needed to share something on your mind, but you didn’t have anyone to listen to you. Be that person for your students. I find time to do this at our lunch table, during a center rotation, and during morning meeting. If you need morning meeting prompts, try my SEL Writing Prompts for 3-5 students or Daily Check-in Bundle if you teach K-3.

Follow-up

One way to show your students that you were listening to them is to follow-up after a conversation. When you follow-up with a student, it can be done the same day or within a week after your discussion. I have noticed a difference in my students’ state of mind and even behavior when I check-in with them after something they have shared with me.

Include Students in Class Decisions

Your classroom does not only belong to you. Let your students take on some responsibility for influencing decisions that will affect the whole group. You can include them in making the class norms, consequences that match their behavior(acceptable and unacceptable), or what the new class pet should be. I know that you are doing most of these, but there are plenty of ways to let your students know that their voices matter in your classroom.

Bring a Little Piece of Them Into the Class

Some students spend more time in your classroom than they do at home. Just like you include them in class decisions, let them take up space no matter how small. You can let students bring one of their favorite things from home and have a show and tell(even with the upper grades). Let students choose their favorite assignment from their portfolio to display inside or outside the classroom. I have a corner in my classroom where I have my students’ names and photos. I use it throughout the day to track who is at school, and at the end of the day, I point to a student’s picture and ask them what they learned that day or how they showed S.O.A.R. behavior(my school’s PBIS). What are some ways you can include your students in the classroom? Let me know in the comments below.

Just Tell Students how Important They are to you

Just telling your student how grateful you are to be their teacher would mean so much to them. I don’t know about you, but I didn’t always know that my teachers enjoyed being my teachers when I was in school. Let your students know during morning meeting, letting them choose how they greet you at the door, telling them during dismissal. There are plenty of times throughout the day where you can share with your student how much they mean to you. If you need ideas, check out my list of positive affirmations to tell your students.

I hope you enjoyed these five tips about how to connect with students. If you need tips for a new teacher this is a good place to start. Relationships are so important in the classroom. When you build relationships with students you are making sure they know they are more than just another test score.