Even though you are teaching high school, you are not in high school. You’re not running for class president or prom king. Also, as a teacher, you must do things that are actually unpopular, like impose consequences or give bad grades. As stated in a previous article: An effective teacher does not make Ms. Nice. However, what teacher does not want to have a good relationship with his students?
This, the seventh in an eight-part series on classroom management, focuses on relationship building. Use the following strategies to win the trust and hearts of your students.
FLATTER THEM. Give specific and sincere compliments. Instead of saying, “You did great,” say, “I appreciate the way you sat attentively through the two-hour presentation.”
CONSULT THEM. Get information from students about movies, field trips, and activities. Make decisions or revise curricula and content based on your feedback.
WRITE THEM. On assignments, point out the things your students do well. A positive grade on an assignment, regardless of the grade, will give your students a confidence boost.
WARN THEM. Before a student “gets in trouble,” alert them to the behavior and then help them find ways to avoid the consequences. Setting your students up for success in this way will show them that you have their best interests in mind.
CORRECT THEM. However, to use the more politically correct term, give them consequences. While it may seem counterintuitive, issuing consequences according to your classroom rules will feel predictable and consistent. This will make students feel safe.
REWARD THEM. Just as you can warn them about negative behavior, you need to reward students for meeting expectations. An end-of-semester party, special trip, or selection of activities is a great way to accomplish this.
Having a positive relationship with your students and managing your classroom effectively are not mutually exclusive. In fact, relationship building is a key part of classroom management. When you use the tips above, you will build a strong relationship with your students and secure your classroom management skills.