“Build relationships with students” …I’m gonna admit that when administrators say this to me it feels like a cop out on their part and a critique of my teaching skills. But…relationships are key to a positive learning environment. There are simple ways to build relationships with students. The best way (in my opinion) is to have fun WITH them! But how do I do this you ask? Check out these easy ideas that specifically target fun while limiting the chaos.
Playing games with your students to build relationships
If you have a free time reward, set out games and join in. Kids LOVE it when their teachers play along! A bit of advice: Make sure you’ve set expectations for the game time so that you can actually enjoy the play time and not have to monitor behaviors.
Create a routine with events that students look forward to
Perhaps every Friday you start class with a whole-class game. It can be a Bingo or Jeopardy game that reviews concepts from the week, an online game that’s fun and easy for you to run. I love to put up task cards around the room and have students partner up and rotate from card to card, answering the questions (find a selection of task cards here that are done for you), or do a guessing game where you have a mystery word from some important concept from the week, and you give a clue that helps students guess, etc.
These fun classroom activities really add to the positive classroom environment.
Build relationships with a fun reward system
I love using Tic Tac mints that I call “Wicked Witch Potion.” When students are on task and focused, I’ll walk around with Tic Tac mints in my hand and ask in a silly voice, “Wicked Witch Potion?” I encourage them to respond using a funny voice, “Thank you, Ms. Howe.” Then I’ll reply in a wicked witch voice, “You’re welcome, Kira.”
This is so simple, and even older kiddos love it. I don’t do it all the time, so when the witch potion comes out, it’s special, silly, and the rule is that students need to keep working the entire time or the potion goes bye-bye.
Go play outside with students
This is a bit more work on your part, but it pays dividends. During recess, periodically go outside and play games with the students. Now I know how much I need breaks to grade, plan, make calls, take a rest, have a cup of tea, etc. But every so often I’ll head out to the playground to either join in a game or watch kids play so that I can comment when I see them in class. Simple and effective.
Have group discussions
Encourage structured group discussions where students can share ideas, debate topics, and learn from each other in a controlled environment. I love using literature circles because students learn how to have a discussion using respect. Before diving in t group discussions, make sure to teach students the skills of agreeing, disagreeing, standing your ground, etc. I teach these skills during literature circles. Read this blog post for more info.
Plan hands-on activities
Think science experiments, art projects, or interactive simulations that reinforce learning objectives. Hands-on activities are more work on your part, but the rewards far outweigh the burden. Students appreciate the activities, and they engage in higher-level thinking, collaborate, share ideas to problem-solve, and so much more.
Dress up to build relationships
Dress up as a relevant character from history, a novel, an archaeologist, etc. Students love it when their teachers dress up. It raises the element of fun and engagement, FOR SURE! You can also introduce role-playing scenarios related to the lesson content, allowing students to act out historical events or scientific processes. That’s me below…archaeologist for a day!
See this blog post on increasing engagement in the classroom.
Write WITH your students
Now we know this can’t happen most of the time, but when you introduce a new genre or want to model something, take 5 minutes and write in front of the class, narrating through the process. Use a story from your life so that kids learn more about you. The longer you teach, the more you’ll be able to select life events that fit into your writing examples and also learn how to limit your talking time so the focus is on student writing.
Take students outside for outdoor learning
Take advantage of outdoor spaces for lessons, nature walks, or field trips, providing a refreshing change of scenery. I love going outside for poetry. We all sit under the trees and look up to observe what’s around us: sounds, sights, smells, etc. Remember to set your expectations for outdoor learning. Remind students that the ability to do this is dependent on meeting the expectations.
Brain teasers and puzzles
Integrate brain teasers, puzzles, or riddles into your lessons as fun challenges that promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Escape rooms are a great addition to the classroom, and many don’t require locks or tons of work on your part. Find a fun, no prep Egypt Escape Room here.
Play music in the classroom
Music sets a tone. When students came back into the classroom after distance learning, I played music for most transitions, for math work time, and any time that seemed appropriate. Students were introduced to new genres, and there were times I couldn’t help but dance around the classroom, which actually helped me build stronger relationships with the students.
Build relationships by using music for learning
I love using songs for memorization. Students learn the prepositions by singing a list of words to “99 Bottles of Pop on the Wall” and it becomes a contest of who can sing it the fastest. Students come back to me from high school and can still proudly sing the Preposition Song. Think grammar, math, history facts, etc. as topics for simple educational songs.
Simulations and role-playing games build relationships
Utilize educational simulations or role-playing games tailored to your subject area, allowing students to immerse themselves in interactive learning experiences. I’ve run an early human simulation that I call “How Not to Be a Caveman” and students LOVE it. They beg for more, even when the game has reached its conclusion. These take time to learn and set up, but once you’ve done it, you learn hacks to reduce your workload.
Use mystery challenges
Present mystery challenges or scavenger hunts with clues related to lesson content. Labeling something a mystery adds excitement and encourages students to apply their knowledge creatively.
Use interactive quizzes
Create engaging quizzes with platforms like Socrative or Google Forms, allowing students to participate actively while learning.
Use more educational games
Incorporate games like Kahoot!, Quizizz, or educational board or card games relevant to your lesson plans to make learning enjoyable. These games are great to use in centers, for free game time, and as focused practice.
Think small steps when building relationships. It’s the little things that build more substantial relationships.
Save this post to a relevant board for future reference.
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