Anita | 2011/09/18

Yes a relationship that results in respect is great but I found a relationship that results in academic respect is the future. My students do respect me but as far as academics they lack that form of respect because they feel that if they respect me and I care about them as a person I will pass them not true. The United States needs to respect the teacher as a learning guide not a foster parent and demand parents to be accountable for their child's education and stop allowing them (parents) to contribute to the academic delinquency of minors. Parents + Teachers = highly successful students in any country. With both being held accountable the end result is low performing schools.

? | 2011/03/26

The caring teacher it not means that you have to ask every students about their breakfast if they did not eaten you give them or you buy them breakfast.

Peaceful | 2011/03/24

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Desiree | 2011/02/19

AMEN !

Carla | 2010/08/16

You are absolutely correct Scott. We have to demand excellence... but our administrators disagree with us. That's why I am leaving the profession. I taught abroad too and it is very easy to see that in our country, the most powerful in the world, our system is not working. Our students are by far below the level of the "Third World Countries" students.

Jayme | 2010/07/18

I believe that you do not have to give up classroom rules or expectations in order to be a caring teacher. Students will be more receptive to a teacher if they have a relationship based on trust and respect. It does take time to make these connections but in the end I find that students will work harder and even complete work they don't find interesting if they have a connection with the teacher.

Maria http://www.DorisTheSaurus.com | 2010/06/30

I agree with Scott. As a teacher and/or a parent, it's important to remember that building a relationship with a child does not mean being their friend; this is the core of the problem right now. Children will feel cared for if their teachers know their strengths/weaknesses, help them set goals, demand high performance, celebrate successes, and set parameters/guidlines for work and behavior. This must be organized and consistent.

Karen | 2010/06/28

Marlene: Most seasoned teachers will tell you that you need to be strict (consistently enforcing acceptable classroom behavior) at the beginning of the year?to make sure students know what?s expected of them. That frees you up to teach (and allows students to learn in a calmer environment) and when appropriate to show that you care about them and are interested in them as people. Of course you must continue to be consistent in your expectations throughout the year?but it becomes easier after the first month or so of school. When you are not consistent in reinforcing your classroom rules and appropriate behavior, you ?teach? students that they can behave however they want, because most of the time (except when you get irritated with them), they can get away with anything. Take a look at the collection of articles and video clips at Order in the Classroom - http://www.nea.org/tools/31410.htm for more ideas. And Social Skills Kids Need to Succeed - http://www.nea.org/tools/16763.htm Scott: As for building relationships? the research shows that many kids who drop out of school say that no one cared whether they were there or not, so they left. And these are kids as young a middle school age. Conversely, many kids say that one caring adult kept them in school. Our goals as educators today are keeping kids in school and learning. And helping them graduate and become lifelong learners. That means teachers must consistently enforce the classroom rules of acceptable behavior and remind students of their expectations that students do their part to learn. But, it also means that teachers should show students that they care about them or value them as human beings. Best wishes for a great year!

kay | 2010/06/28

I defiantly agree with his ideas. The school systems of the United States, has been struggling to improve for students? eye levels. They have emphasized teachers? qualifications, students and teachers? ratios, environment and many other demands. But most of the time, when students are not doing well on the tests or performances, the blames are directed to teachers. Many parents are not interesting students or school systems.

Marlene | 2010/06/19

I am reading this information on classroom management because my administrators want me to be stricter with my students. Previously I was friendly and caring. The students took advantage and did not mind me the way they did the other teachers.

Scott | 2010/04/29

As a teacher who has taught abroad for many years, I can?t help but comment on a trend I?m seeing on this website and in American education in general. There is so much talk about building relationships and nurturing the students, but I?m not reading any articles about demanding excellence or accountability in our classrooms. This is in stark contrast to the majority of the countries I have taught in. These school systems demand that the students perform at a high level, place teaching development emphasis on challenging the students to work and lack the disciplinary problems that seem to plague our schools. While I?m not suggesting that building relationships with students is unnecessary, I do believe that the focus in education should be on results and not feelings. I?m quite sure that a number of teachers will disagree, but I can see firsthand that we are doing a disservice to our students with this style of education and leaving them vulnerable in the global economy.

Scott | 2010/04/29

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Deloris | 2010/04/28

Useful ideas.

? | 2010/04/17

Beautiful article and so true.