developing positive relationships with parents, students and other teachers

Developing Positive Relationships with Parents, Students and other TeachersCourse: Principles & Practice Of Education

By: Carla George

School: University of the Southern Caribbean, Extension Campus - Tobago

Introduction

According to Webb (2013), One of the most profound experiences we can

have in our lives is the connection we have with other human beings.

Positive and supportive relationships will help us to feel healthier, happier,

and more satisfied with our lives.

Every relationship we have can teach us something, and

by building positive relationships with others, we will be

happier and more fulfilled and feel more supported,

supportive, and connected.

Importance of Positive Relationships

Communication is the basis of our relationships. Therefore, it is important to have positive

communication with others, so that we may have positive relationships.

Relationships with loving and caring adults are primary to the way a child will grow both

physically and emotionally. These nurturing relationships provide stability for any child and

encourage every aspect of their development.

By building positive relationships with others, we will be happier and more fulfilled and feel

more supported, supportive, and connected. It will also encourage self-esteem and a sense of

worth.

Parent-Teacher Relationships


One of the most important factors in children’s learning: the relationship between

parents and teachers. Having an effective relationship between these two groups of

people can help learners achieve more. Elena Aguilar, a Transformational Leadership

Coach from Oakland, California, mentioned a few tips in an article for us teachers to

build positive relationships with our pupil’s parents. They include:

o Smile when you meet and greet parents

o Be familiar with each of their names


o Declare to them your intensions as the class teacher that their child/children are

enrolled in

o Communicate as often with them using creative forms

o Give positive feedback to them about their child/children

o Ask questions about their child/children

o Be a good listener to the parents

o Invite parents to make daily or weekly visits to the classroom


o Give special thanks to parents who are involved in their child/children’s learning

o Show appreciation to them

o Invite parents to celebrate their child/children’s success in the class

“A positive parent-teacher relationship helps your child feel good about

school and be successful in school,” advises Diane Levin, Ph.D.,

professor of education at Wheelock College. “It demonstrates to your

child that he can trust his teacher, because you do. This positive

relationship makes a child feel like the important people in his life are

working together.”

Teacher-Student Relationships


Teachers who foster positive relationships with

their students create classroom environments

more conducive to learning and meet students'

developmental, emotional and academic

needs. Sara Rimm-Kaufman, PhD, and Lia

Sandilos, PhD, at the University of Virginia gave

relevant pointers that can be used to develop a

positive teacher-student relationship.


o Show your pleasure and enjoyment of students.

o Interact with students in a responsive and respectful manner.

o Offer students help (e.g., answering questions in timely manner, offering support

that matches students' needs) in achieving academic and social objectives.

o Help students reflect on their thinking and learning skills.

o Know and demonstrate knowledge about individual students' backgrounds,

interests, emotional strengths and academic levels.


o Avoid showing irritability or aggravation toward students.

o Acknowledge the importance of peers in schools by encouraging students to be

caring and respectful to one another.

Positive teacher-student relationships draw students into the

process of learning and promote their desire to learn (assuming

that the content material of the class is engaging, age-appropriate

and well matched to the student's skills).

Teacher-Teacher Relationships


According to Derrick Meador, a Teaching Expert for About.com, highlighted that effective

teacher to teacher relationship is vitally essential to your success as a teacher. Education is an

extremely difficult concept for those outside the field to understand. Having peers that you can

collaborate with and lean on during tough times is essential.

The development of positive and professional relationships with your

colleagues does not happen automatically, and is not always easy; it

takes time and effort.


Listed below are Eleven (11) things to keep in mind when trying to build positive relationships with

faculty and staff members at school:

o Encourage and show kindness and humility -- Never let an opportunity to show kindness or

encouragement to others to pass.

o Be happy – Every day you go to work, you need to make a choice to be happy.

o Refuse to engage in gossip or hearsay -- Don't allow gossip to rule your life.

o Let the water roll off your back –Don’t let negative things said about you get under your skin.

o Collaborate with your peers – Collaboration is vitally essential among teachers.

o Watch what you say to people -- How you say something counts for just as much as what you say.


o If you make a promise, you better be prepared to keep it -- If you intend to make promises,

you had better be prepared to keep them, no matter what the cost.

o Learn about others’ outside interests -- Find a common interest that you have with others

(e.g. grandchildren, sports, movies, etc.) and spark a conversation.

o Be open-minded -- Do not get into arguments.

o Understand that some peoples’ feelings are hurt easier than others -– Humor can bring

people together, but it can also tear people apart.

o Don’t worry about accolades -- Do your best.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the development of positive relationships between you, the teacher and

parents, students and other teachers, does not take one effort, but many. Positive

relationships provide opportunities for learning in all areas of life. Encourage, equip,

and teach as you develop that all important relationship with your child or a child you

teach.

Remember that every communication exchange, regardless of format, should reflect a

thoughtful, planned approach and should be viewed as an opportunity for teachers to

promote parent partnerships and, ultimately, to support student learning.

Conclusion

Remember that the best teachers are capable of maximizing the learning potential of

every student in their class.

Remember to act professionally at all times, value and respect them, and work with

them, and you will be well on your way to developing positive and supportive

relationships with your colleagues.

Resources

Aguilar, E. (2011). “20 Tips for Developing Positive Relationships With Parents”. Retrieved on May 27th 2015 from:

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/20-tips-developing-positive-relationships-parents-elena-aguilar

Meador, D. (2015). “Tips for Effective Teacher to Teacher Communication” Retrieved on Ma 27th 2015 from:

http://teaching.about.com/od/pd/a/Teacher-To-Teacher-Communication.htm

Public Broadcasting Station. “Education”. Retrieved on May 28th 2015 from: http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/going-

to- school/parent-involvement/parent-teacher-partnership/

Rimm-Kaufman, S. and Sandilos, L. (2015) “Improving Students' Relationships with Teachers to Provide Essential

Supports for Learning” Retrieved on May 27th 2015 from: http://www.apa.org/education/k12/relationships.aspx

Resources

Webb, L.(2013). “8 Tips for Developing Positive Relationships”. Retrieved on May 27th 2015

from: http://www.trainingmag.com/content/8-tips-developing-positive-relationships

The End