Relationships are key in creating classroom cultures where students feel loved, valued, and appreciated. Teachers who have strong relationships with students are better able to push students towards building healthy socio-emotional habits and higher academic achievement.
This self-contract pushes teachers to outline specific ways in which they will build relationships with students, create a sense of community, and help students build relationships amongst themselves. Additionally, the contracts calls for teachers to name the “relationship killers” that they commit to avoiding and it includes measures for accountability throughout the relationship building process.
“This tool really helped me narrow down specific ways I can truly and deeply connect with each student, and help them connect with each other, in meaningful ways. It also encouraged me to be accountable to doing those action steps. My favorite part, however, was having to think about what Relationship Killers I may bring into the classroom, and kept me continually thinking about those things and my commitment to not do them. It is always beneficial to reflect on our own practices, the good and the bad, and to hold ourselves accountable for creating the most conducive environment to thriving for our students, and this tool helped get me there.”
Kayley Devoe, 3rd grade teacher at Harper-Archer Elementary School, Atlanta, GA