1. Steve Senf ssenf@ed.sc.gov 803-896-0346
Building Connections
Steve Senf

2. Who is this guy and what does he know? Maybe not much.

3. Why do we need to connect with students?
We are teachers. We teach subjects…to people. Without people we have nothing to teach. We have to connect with our students, make them feel valued, safe in their ideas.

4. Which are more difficult to work with?
Who are our students?
The popular Kids
The Smart Kids
The bored and unmotivated
Which are more difficult to work with?

5. First day of class introductions
Self introduction and background
Handshake and welcome knowing their names!
Name game
What do you want to learn
Not only am I learning who they are but they may be learning who they are if no one has ever asked
First day of class introductions

6. We have to treat everyone the same…differently
We have to treat everyone the same…differently. Find out who they really are. What do they truly aspire to be, not what others expect of them.
Matt Duckett: baseball, scholarship, quit

7. A special group, The victims
Victims come in many forms. They have been victims of crimes, injustice or unfairness. How do we know? How do we connect?

8. Molestation
Suicide
Sudden move
Violent crime
Neglect
Family issues
Other events

9. Strategies for connecting
A: Worksheets 2: Writing “assignments” Weekly Check-in Current Events
Strategies for connecting

10. We do not always agree with everything, but we should always agree that we are all human beings and deserve to have someone in our corner
You never know when or how you will “connect” with someone.
Be nice

11. I strongly recommend not connecting with students on social media
Never discuss students, especially negatively on social media or ever, they may hear about it
Do not listen to other teachers negativity about students
Speak up for the students. They may hear about it
Extra

12. Strategies of your own to share with us?
Marginalized, reach-out, everyone is good at something-FIND IT!, PEOPLE

13. Steve Senf ssenf@ed.sc.gov 803-896-0346