Helpful Strategies to Build Trust and Connection in Classroom

Your student’s success depends on your relationship with them. That’s why 97 % of teachers focus on building trust and good connections in the classroom (State of Engagement Report, 2022-23).

Want to know why and how? Below we’ll discuss the importance of strong student-teacher relationships and trust. Read till the end to find helpful strategies. We’ve also covered relationship-building classroom activities for day one, so you can start fresh this new academic session.

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Importance of Building Trust with Students

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Developing trust in your students improves student-teacher relationships and the quality of the teaching-learning process. Both students and teachers benefit by building trust in each other.

You can reduce indiscipline in the classroom by building trusting relationships with your students- as per a study published in School Psychology Review (2008).
You transform students’ lives and learning experiences once they start trusting you. Trust is the ‘binding glue’ that brings relationships together in education— wrote Stephen Brookfield in his book, ‘Building Trust With Students (1990)’.

“When you develop trust in students, they have more faith in you than in their parents”, says Deepa P., Retired KVS Primary Teacher.

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Why is it important for teachers to build relationships with students?

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Teachers form deep bonds with students to keep the teaching-learning process going smoothly. Strong teacher-student relationship motivates students. Have you noticed zero engagement in some classrooms? While those students actively interact with other teachers.

A good relationship between teacher and learner improves learning quality. Special needs learners benefit the most from good student-teacher rapport. Students feel a sense of belonging when teachers build a deep connection with them and thus learn better.

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What if teachers don’t build trust and rapport with students?

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If teachers don’t have trustful and healthy relationships with students, they lose interest in their studies. They avoid learning new things and don’t share their problems. They may also develop a subject/exam phobia. Classroom indiscipline and behavioral problems are other negative effects of a lack of trust in student-teacher relationships.

Teachers are also affected by unfriendly student relationships. Don’t you feel burned out and stressed because of students who create indiscipline in class? You lose patience and may shout at them.

Bad student-teacher rapport negatively impacts the social and emotional development of students and stresses teachers, as per the American Psychological Association.

You need to be more than a teacher to build deeper connections with your students.

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How to Connect Better with Students?

To deeply connect with your students, be

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Be their FRIEND.

Make your students comfortable to open up to you. Take inspiration from these relationship-building strategies for the classroom:

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Lend a Listening Ear

Students go through peer pressure, and career and relationship-related confusion as they grow up. Be non-judgemental in listening and don’t jump to conclusions. High-school students sometimes need a listening ear rather than advice.

Show Kindness and Respect

Students love teachers who respect them and their choices. Talk nicely to them and be considerate of their feelings. Avoid public shaming and rude remarks.

Promote Empathy and Affection

Learners need to know their teachers care for their well-being and future. Show that through your actions and conduct. You’ll have to act like their parent sometimes, looking after their needs and emotions.

Accept your Mistakes

To get close to your students, keep your ego aside. Admit when you’re wrong. Your students will accept you for your honesty.

Welcome Diversity and Inclusivity

Embrace all races and cultures in your classroom. Keep special learners, socially or economically challenged learners in mind during lesson planning. Create a welcoming space so your students feel interested in learning at school. Educator CJ Reynolds suggests ‘Communal Meals’ for classroom community and relationship building in a teacher podcast.

Be Fun and Break The Monotony

Reynolds advises teachers to be creative in daily lessons. Make your lessons fun by using interactive teaching methods. (Add link to indic blog). It’s a great way to build relationships with students.

Improve Communication-

Communication is key to building healthy student-teacher rapport. Greet your students in the corridor and be visible during their school time. Give handwritten letters and sticky notes.

Appreciate Efforts

Don’t you like it when you’re appreciated? Your students are equally happy when you acknowledge their efforts and good habits. Tell them you’re proud when they improve academically and become responsible.

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Icebreaker Activities to Build Rapport with New Students

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Learn Student Names

Quickly learn the names of new students. You can also ask for their names’ meaning to build relationships with new students.

Discover Unique Talents and Interests

Try personality quizzes and riddles to understand their interests. Play games to know their hidden abilities.

Teach Meaningful on Day 1

Don’t forget to teach, even if it’s the introduction to the lesson. Keep students interested in upcoming classes.

Be a Mother-like figure

This is for kindergarten and primary students. They should feel at home on their first day of school.

Share Exemplary Stories

Tell them stories of successful alumni who improved in studies and behavior. Make sure there’s no unhealthy comparison.

Classroom Scavenger Hunt

Plan a scavenger hunt for day one. Divide teams or pairs. It’s a good team and relationship-building activity to form a classroom community.

Relationship Mapping

OSSE (an education agency) suggests relationship mapping before the start of the session. Prepare a list of all students. Put yellow marks on the names of students you have a good connection with. Put red marks for those who need special attention. You can also form Student Advisory Boards and Survey Groups

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Strategies to Build Trust in the Classroom

Trust and respect in the classroom can be maintained with these activities.

Make students feel they’re being trusted.

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Promote trust in students for their teachers.

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Concluding

The absence of trust and healthy rapport between teachers and students negatively impacts learning and engagement. Before the start of each session, develop a schedule for spending time with your students. Interact with each of them for at least 2 minutes daily. Then reflect on that information and modify your teaching practices and strategies to build trust and deeper connections with your students.

Next Steps:
Understand Child Psychology to establish positive relationships in the classroom.