Building Trusting Relationships
Overview
Building positive and trusting relationships with learners fosters a Sense of Belonging, safety, and engagement, laying the groundwork for academic, cognitive, and social-emotional growth. Supportive student-teacher relationships form the foundation for classroom learning by fostering student engagement and Motivation, while also enhancing Creativity and Critical Thinking by encouraging students to explore new ideas in a safe and supportive environment. When teachers model trust and mutual respect, children develop a Learner Mindset, becoming more Curious, resilient, and open to challenges. This approach is especially critical for students from diverse backgrounds or those who have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), as trust serves as a stabilizing force that supports culturally responsive teaching.
Example: Use This Strategy In in the Classroom
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Factors Supported by this Strategy
More Teacher Modeling & Support Strategies
Providing instructional steps clearly and concisely can help learners understand classroom expectations and complete tasks efficiently.
Discussing emotions with children consists of supporting their ability to identify, label, and manage their feelings.
Self-advocacy is the ability of an individual to understand and effectively express and assert their own rights, needs, desires, and interests.
Providing students a voice in their learning is critical for making learning meaningful.
