Many educators often struggle with cultivating meaningful connections with students and creating a positive learning environment where learners feel safe and supported. This can be due to the systemic inequities in the education system, the huge diversity in student backgrounds, our own burnout and lack of self-care practices, or lack of support from administrators and the community.
We get stuck wondering things like, “How can I effectively build positive relationships with all my students, especially those who are more challenging to connect with?” or “How can I balance my own well-being with meeting the needs of my students?”.
When you’re unsure what to do, it’s hard to move forward.
The good news is, you can easily bring order to the chaos by elevating your teaching with the power of relational teaching.
In this post, I’ll define relational teaching and provide 3 strategies for building an inclusive classroom. I hope that this will give you a roadmap so you can get started with relational teaching practices and feel empowered and supported in your efforts to create a culture of inclusion.
What is the perfect mix of strategies in relational teaching?
Relational teaching is an approach to education that prioritizes the cultivation of strong, authentic relationships between educators and their students. It involves creating a positive, inclusive, and mindful classroom environment where mutual respect and empathy are central to the teaching and learning experience.
In other words:
Relational teaching emphasizes building connections with students from diverse backgrounds, promoting student agency and voice, and supporting their social and emotional well-being.
The added benefit is that it fosters a community of learners that collaborates, communicates openly, and values the unique contributions of each individual. Exactly the types of interactions we want in our broader communities and world!
Strategy #1: Building Strong Teacher-Student Relationships
Building strong teacher-student relationships is the intentional process of fostering authentic connections, trust, and mutual respect between educators and our students to create a positive and supportive learning environment.
This is a crucial component because it forms the foundation for effective teaching and learning. These relationships foster a sense of belonging and safety for students, encouraging them to actively participate in their education.
When students feel valued and respected, they are more likely to engage in the learning process, take risks, and collaborate with their peers.
Many of us who are new to relational teaching start out on the right track but then get stuck because it feels overwhelming to fit building strong, individual relationships into our already busy schedules.
And then we wind up focusing on the dynamics of the whole class or getting to know just a few students well.
The key to building strong connections with each student is to be vulnerable yourself, and commit to getting to know more about your students’ diverse strengths, needs, backgrounds, and perspectives.
To get started here, encourage students to share their own stories or experiences. You can try icebreaker activities, writing prompts, or class discussions to invite your students to share something about themselves. Be sure to share about yourself too!
Strategy #2: Creating Inclusive Learning Environments
Creating inclusive learning environments involves designing and cultivating classroom spaces that welcome and accommodate the diverse needs, backgrounds, and experiences of all students, fostering a sense of belonging and equitable opportunities for learning.
If you’ve spent hours setting up your classroom environment but something still feels off – like you’re not getting the student engagement and participation you are looking for, this is likely the piece that’s missing.
Without this, you can spend endless time planning engaging lessons and changing up the classroom layout and still not have a safe and supportive classroom culture.
What can you do?
A really useful technique for building an inclusive classroom is to promote diversity and representation.
Intentionally incorporate a wide range of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences in the curriculum, learning materials, and classroom activities. This fosters a sense of inclusion and belonging for students by validating their identities and creating an environment where they feel seen, heard, and valued.
This technique also helps students reflect on and challenge stereotypes and biases that may come up. As students learn about the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of others, they are able to develop empathy and understanding for people different from themselves.
Strategy #3: Blending in Mindfulness and Self-Care Practices
Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and aware of one’s thoughts, feelings, and surroundings without judgment. Self-care practices encompass activities and strategies that prioritize and nurture one’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being to maintain balance and overall health.
Why is this important in relational teaching?
Mindfulness fosters greater self-awareness and empathy, allowing you and your students to better understand and respond to each person’s emotional needs. When you prioritize self-care and mindfulness, you serve as a positive role model for your students. Students observe healthy coping mechanisms and learn the importance of taking care of their own well-being.
And, these practices create a positive and nurturing classroom culture which leads to better academic and emotional outcomes for students.
Here’s where you’ll really start to build a more empathetic, compassionate, and supportive learning environment.
Of course, this requires us to set the time aside for self-care and mindfulness. Consider weaving these practices into your classroom to benefit you and your students.
Three steps you can use to include mindfulness and self-care in your classroom are:
- Start with your personal practice
Begin by cultivating a personal mindfulness and self-care practice. Engage in mindfulness exercises such as deep breathing, meditation, or body scan techniques regularly to manage stress and promote emotional well-being. Prioritize self-care activities that resonate with you, such as journaling, spending time in nature, or engaging in hobbies that bring joy and relaxation.
- Then, model and integrate the practices
Model mindfulness and self-care practices in the classroom by incorporating brief mindfulness exercises or moments of reflection during the school day. Share your own experiences with mindfulness and self-care to demonstrate their value. For example, start the day with a short mindfulness activity or incorporate mindfulness breaks during transitions or before tests. Encourage students to engage in self-care practices, such as taking short breaks when needed or expressing gratitude.
- Finally, incorporate mindful teaching strategies
Integrate mindfulness into your teaching approaches to create a mindful learning environment. Use mindful listening techniques to be fully present when interacting with students, and encourage open communication and reflective discussions. Use mindfulness-based activities, such as mindful storytelling, to enhance students’ focus and engagement. Additionally, be attentive to students’ social and emotional well-being and provide support and resources as needed.
Once you’re done, you’ll be well on your way to creating a positive and nurturing environment.
Putting it All Together for Your Perfect Relational Teaching Mix
There you have it! The 3 components of your perfect relational teaching mix.
It may sound like a lot, but like most things practice makes perfect. Just focus on one step at a time. This will help you foster inclusion and build powerful relationships founded on trust, respect, and empathy.
What’s next? Check out the Stump the Slump Challenge
If you need help getting started, my free 5-day Stump the Slump Challenge will help you re-energize yourself so you can rock the rest of the school year.
