Written by Amanda Alaniz, Dean of Students
Research has determined what effective teachers do to establish rapport with students. The ability to recognize the importance for our own well being, as well as the well being of our community and families, is the foundation of building positive rapport and relationships.
This ability goes far beyond agreeing and connecting with others; it is recognizing that others have differing points of view, feelings, and judgments. Human nature, alone, can complicate the ability to build rapport as we all are unique and complex individuals with our own set of fears, doubts, insecurities, strengths, and goals. Although the ability for educators to build relationships with students does not directly result in learning, it creates conditions conducive to learning. Positive rapport leads to higher motivation, increased comfort, and enhanced communication.
Teachers and students must show RESPECT for each other, for the learning process, and the school. Students have to feel comfortable with the adults at school. All students should feel that the educators are APPROACHABLE. There should always be OPEN COMMUNICATION. The educators must be honest and consistent between what they say and do. The educators should be CARING. They must see and respond to students as individuals. The educators' ability to have a POSITIVE ATTITUDE and be open to points of view other than their own also impacts the rapport built between adults and students.
It is fair to say all adults who interact with the youth of Portage need to consistently exhibit the willingness to take action by modeling respect, approachability, openness, care for others, and positive attitudes in order to truly create and maintain positive relationships. Our youth deserves to have educators, parents, community leaders, and coaches that understand that rapport is an emergent property of learning.
The educators of Portage Township Schools respond to the responsibility of building relationships and rapport as a crucial component indicative of our youths' success. At a recent staff meeting, Mr. Misecko and I asked our teachers at Fegely Middle School to reflect over the first nine weeks of this school year. They were to write a successful experience that has shaped the future of our students. In reading some of our teachers' responses, you will agree our teachers truly build rapport in order to create an environment that is conducive to learning and individual empowerment. Because in the end, the words of Henry Brooks Adams are true, "A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops."
- "I encourage my students to want to do better. I've had an entire class of students come in at lunch to retake a test just because they want to do better."
- "I worked with students who were struggling one on one until they could master a power indicator."
- "I made my entire class smile and laughed with them."
- "I helped a student realize his potential."
- "I have connected with students who now come to me when they have an issue."
- "The level of trust between the students and I is at an all time high."
- "I have reached my students beyond the classroom. My kids believe they can succeed in all parts of life."
- "I have motivated students to be class leaders."
- "I have helped students embrace the idea of fitness and they feel good about their improvements."
- "I helped a student realize that parents push us to raise expectations, not to be mean."
- "I encouraged a student to make good choices."
- "I connected with a student who is now getting better grades."
- "I had a part in encouraging a student to come to school on time."