A teacher speaks warmly one-on-one to a student

2 x 10: Getting to Know A Student

Teachers spend two minutes a day for ten days getting to know a student with whom they wish to foster a positive relationship.

Level: PreK/Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School

Duration: ≤ 15 minutes

Topics: Positive Teacher-Student Relationships, SEL for Adults: Social Awareness and Relationship Skills, Empathy for Adults, Kindness and Compassion for Adults

My Notes: Add/Edit Notes

Planning For It

When You Might Use This Practice

Any time during the school year, but especially at the beginning of the year to cultivate positive relationships with students

Time Required

2 minutes per day for 10 consecutive school days

Materials

None

Learning Objective

Teachers will:

Cultivate a positive relationship with a student by spending time getting to know that student

Additional Supports

Character Strengths

Empathy
Kindness
Compassion

SEL Competencies

Relationship Skills

Mindfulness Components

Focused Attention
Non-Judgment

How To Do It

Reflection Before the Practice

Take a moment to think of a social situation or a classroom where you felt shy or didn’t feel you belonged (i.e., that someone cared you were there), and someone reached out to you in a way that made you feel more connected.
- Who was this person and what did they say to you to make you feel as if you belong?
- Did your interaction with this person change how you felt about being in this situation or classroom? For example, did you feel that you had every right to be there, or did you question whether this was a fit for you?
- Did your behaviors or beliefs about yourself change as a result of this interaction? For instance, did you feel that you had a positive contribution to make, or did you continue to feel shy about being there?
What is your reason for doing this practice? How is it relevant to a student’s life? Would they agree with you?
If the student comes from a different background than yours, how might you learn more about this student’s background in order to better connect with them?
Reflect on whether you might hold any unconscious biases around race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, religion, gender, or other forms of diversity toward a student.
- This article by john a. powell provides strategies for removing these biases.

Instructions

Choose a Student

Choose a student with whom you have had a hard time creating a positive connection or who perhaps is struggling. Students who are habitually quiet or who don’t participate in class may also benefit from this exercise.
Build time into your daily schedule to interact with this student for 2 minutes per day for 10 consecutive school days; for example, connect with the student before school, passing time, recess, lunch, during seat work, in the hallways, or after school.

Get to Know Them

Be sure to keep your interaction with the student positive and focused on the student’s interests. Avoid talking about classwork unless prompted by the student. Here are some possible topics for conversation:
- Favorite movie, TV show, sports team, music, etc.
- Favorite thing to do after school or on weekends
- The student’s upcoming game or performance
Listen more than you talk. If it’s helpful, you might review the steps for Active Listening.
After the first ten days, continue to find ways to informally connect with the student.

Reflection After the Practice

What worked or didn’t work for you in doing this practice? How did the student respond to your efforts to get to know them? Would you change anything for next time?
Has your view of the student shifted after doing this practice? If so, in what way?
What did you do to better understand the background of the student? Was this helpful?
Did you uncover any unconscious biases about this student? If so, how are you beginning to transform them?

The Research Behind It

Evidence That It Works

Studies with diverse groups of students have found that students describe good teachers as those who listen and take a personal interest in students’ lives.

Why Does It Matter?

The teacher-student relationship is at the heart of teaching. Students who know their teachers care about them are more engaged and motivated to learn. They also show greater prosocial — kind and helpful — behavior and increased academic achievement. Indeed, for students in grades 8-12, the teacher-student relationship is the one factor most closely associated with academic growth.

And teachers, too, benefit from good relationships with their students by experiencing the joy of teaching, helping them to maintain their commitment to the profession by preventing burnout.

“The secret in teaching lies in respecting the student.”

–Ralph Waldo Emerson

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