DEVELOPING A SENSE OF TRUST WITH STUDENTS… BUILD CHARACTER AND TRUST BY: MARCIE DODD

MAKING THE CONNECTION….. Students who trust their teachers are more likely to engage in learning and less likely to cause disruptions to the classroom experience.

THREE KEY WAYS TO BUILD TRUST…. Be honest: We all make mistakes. When students make them, we insist they apologize. When we make mistakes we should apologize too. Whether it is a huge error or a small mishap, if we apologize we let students know they can trust that we “walk the walk”. Students will more quickly develop a sense of trust if they feel adults are honest with them. Making students understand we are human too opens a new door for acceptance. Be fair: Fair means all students getting the same rules and exceptions to those rules. Giving a good student an opportunity to turn in an assignment late but refusing the extension for a student who tends to cause trouble often results in students questioning the teacher’s fairness. There are times when we should make exceptions to rules because it is in the best interest of the students. This isn’t a problem for kids. The problem arises when students perceive a certain type of student receives more leeway than other types of students. This is key to building a relationship with these students is making sure everyone is treated the same. Be reliable: When we make promises or set deadlines we need to keep them. Oftentimes students feel they are let down by adults all the time. If teachers do it, the sense of betrayal is even more significant because they want to believe teachers are more trustworthy than other adults they know.

POSITIVE FRAMING. Positive framing corrects and guides behavior by the following six rules:

SIX RULES: 1.Live in the now 2. Assume the best 3. Allow plausible anonymity, 4. Build momentum, and narrate the positive 5. Challenge, 6. Talk expectations and aspirations

DEVELOP A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP….

PRECISE PRAISE Positive reinforcement is one of the most powerful tools in every classroom. There are three steps to follow when using Precise Praise….

THREE STEPS OF PRECISE PRAISE…. 1.Differentiate acknowledgment and praise. 2.Praise and acknowledgment loud; fix soft. 3.Praise must be genuine.

WARM/STRICT Designed to foster an atmosphere in which the teacher is caring, enthusiastic and nurturing, yet at the same time relentless, by the book, and demanding of high standards of achievement and accountability. Keys to effectiveness: 1. Distinguish between behavior and people. 2. Demonstrate that consequences are temporary. 3. Use warm, nonverbal behavior.

WARM AND STRICT I use this in my classroom on a daily. I have certain students that respond well to this technique. For example if a student did not complete his or her homework I put my arm around them and say friend you know what this means no gym and complete your homework!

EXPLAIN EVERYTHING….. Clear, rational, and logical explanations of everything from academic material to rules and procedures. Highlights the importance of understanding the dynamics of personal and group responsibility. Serves to constantly remind students why the things that are being taught are important.

EXPLAIN EVERYTHING IS IMPORTANT…. For Example; My class was reading “Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry” and in chapter 2 there was a part were the Berry’s were set a fire. My students thought it was berry bushes not actual people with the last name The Berry’s.

MAKING IT WORK ALL TOGETHER…. It is my number one goal to develop a personal relationship with each of my students. Every student is special and talented in a different way it is our job as educators to help bring that talent to the surface. We are not here just to teach academics be to teach character and good behavior to ensure that students grow up to be successful adults. Being positive in every situation is always on my mind even when it is hard to see the light. "...the goal in the end is not for them to please you but for them to leave you behind on a long journey toward a more distant and more important goal than making you happy" (Lemov, 2013). I love these quote and it has a lot of meaning for me. It reminds me that learning is a 50/50 partnership between the student and the teacher. We all want to see each of our students build successful lives and become upstanding citizens.

RESOURCES: Lemov, D. (2012). Teach Like A Champion: 49 Techniques that Put Students on the Path to College. Jossey-Bass: San Francisco. Timmons, M. (2012). Kick start your classroom with k-tech (part 2): three tips for building trust. EdWorks: Expect Success. Retrieved from with-k-tech-part-2-three-tips-for-building-trust/