21 Tips For Teachers To Foster A Connection With A Child

Unlock the secrets to building strong, meaningful connections with students in our comprehensive guide, ’21 Tips For Teachers To Foster A Connection With A Child’. This invaluable resource offers educators a wealth of practical strategies and insights to enhance their rapport with students. Dive into a range of effective techniques, from cultivating emotional intelligence to understanding individual learning styles, all designed to create a nurturing and supportive classroom environment. Ideal for new and experienced teachers alike, this article provides essential tips to foster trust, encourage engagement, and promote a positive learning experience for every child. Whether you’re dealing with challenging behaviors or looking to deepen your existing student relationships, these 21 tips are your key to a more connected and impactful teaching journey. Enhance your teaching skills and make a lasting difference in your students’ lives today! According to the National Center on Quality Teaching and Learning, there are at least 21 ways to foster a connection with a child.

21 ways to foster a connection with a child

1. Ask questions.
2. Give warm greetings and good-byes.
3. Laugh together.
4. Play.
5. Listen.
6. Validate feelings.
7. Encourage effort.
8. Give affection.
9. Share in activities.
10. Provide support.
11. Remember what a child tells you.
12. Let the child take the lead.
13. Encourage friendships.
14. Share personal stories.
15. Create special handshakes.
16. Listen to a child’s favorite music.
17. Incorporate the child’s interest.
18. Get on the floor.
19. Give classroom jobs.
20. Maintain eye contact.
21. Call home for GOOD behavior.

Examples for each of the 21 strategies to foster a connection with a child

Here are examples for each of the 21 strategies to foster a connection with a child:

1. Ask Questions: “What was the best part of your day today?”
2. Give Warm Greetings and Good-byes: Greet each child by name with a smile every morning and say a personalized good-bye at the end of the day.
3. Laugh Together: Share a funny story or a light-hearted joke with the class.
4. Play: Join in a game of tag or a board game during recess or free time.
5. Listen: Actively listen when a child talks about their weekend or a favorite hobby.
6. Validate Feelings: “It sounds like you were really upset when that happened.”
7. Encourage Effort: “I’m so proud of how hard you worked on this project!”
8. Give Affection: Offer a high-five, fist bump, or a pat on the back as appropriate.
9. Share in Activities: Participate in a class art project or science experiment.
10. Provide Support: Help a child who is struggling with a difficult task or concept.
11. Remember What a Child Tells You: Follow up on a story a child told you previously.
12. Let the Child Take the Lead: Allow a student to choose a book for storytime.
13. Encourage Friendships: Facilitate group activities that require teamwork.
14. Share Personal Stories: Tell a story from your own childhood relating to the lesson.
15. Create Special Handshakes: Develop a unique handshake with each child.
16. Listen to a Child’s Favorite Music: Play a student’s favorite song during a break.
17. Incorporate the Child’s Interest: Include a child’s favorite animal in a lesson.
18. Get on the Floor: Sit on the floor with the children during circle time.
19. Give Classroom Jobs: Assign roles like ‘line leader’ or ‘library assistant’ to the students.
20. Maintain Eye Contact: Make eye contact when speaking to or listening to a child.
21. Call Home for GOOD Behavior: Make a positive phone call to a parent to share their child’s accomplishments or good deeds.

Each of these actions helps in building a stronger, more positive relationship with children, demonstrating care, interest, and respect for their individual personalities and needs.

Books related to fostering a connection with a child for teachers

For books related to fostering a connection with a child for teachers, here are some recommendations:

1. “Eyes are Never Quiet: Listening Beneath the Behaviors of Our Most Troubled Students” by Dr. Lori L. Desautels and Michael McKnight: This book focuses on understanding the behaviors of troubled students and offers strategies for creating safe and nurturing classrooms to promote student well-being and success.
2. “The Boy Who was Raised as a Dog” by Dr. Bruce Perry and Maia Szalavitz: This book provides insights into the impact of trauma on students and how it manifests in various behaviors. It’s a valuable read for educators to understand children who have experienced trauma.
3. “Relationship, Responsibility, and Regulation: Trauma-Invested Practices for Fostering Resilient Learners” by Kristin Van Marter Souers with Pete Hall: Written from the perspective of a mental health counselor and a principal, this book offers practical strategies for a trauma-sensitive approach to classroom management.
4. “The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma” by Bessel Van Der Kolk: This book delves into the neuroscience of trauma and its effects on students. It offers medical and psychological strategies to mitigate trauma’s impact.
5. “Connections over Compliance: Rewiring our Perceptions of Discipline” by Dr. Lori Desautels: This book discusses rethinking school discipline through a trauma lens and includes strategies for handling emotional responses in stressed students​​.
6. “Fostering Connection: Building Social and Emotional Health in Children and Teens” by Dr. Tish Taylor and Courtney Foat: This book focuses on building and improving relationships within families and between individuals, emphasizing self-awareness around challenging behaviors. It’s beneficial for educators, parents, and mental health professionals​​.

These books cover various aspects of fostering connections with children, particularly in educational settings, and offer valuable insights and strategies for teachers and educators.

Read further 50 WAYS TO ENCOURAGE A CHILD