How Postive Teacher-Student Relationships Lead To Academic Success

Aileen T. Gama

Positive student-teacher relationships increase both academic engagement and prosocial behavior at all levels of schooling. Teachers who offer students the “educational friendship” of respect, appreciation, and love fundamentally improve educational experiences.

A lot of teachers have really strong abilities to engage socially with the students, but oftentimes it is not enough. You have to go much deeper than that and actually start to engage with students around their curiosity, their interests, and their habits of mind through understanding to really be an effective teacher.

Our first job as teachers is to make sure that we learn our students, that we connect with them, showing respect for their character and affirming their worthiness to receive the best education possible. So, how can we develop a meaningful relationship with our young learners? First, we develop a sense of trust and safety, then we leverage that foundation to promote students’ deeper thinking and engagement. When students feel comfortable and valued, they are more likely to participate actively in class and challenge themselves academically.

Furthermore, showing them empathy is a great starting point on building a great relationship. Reseachers have found that teachers who cultivate empathy for and with their students are able to manage students’ behavior and academic engagement better. We can show them empathy by regularly talking to them to understand their perceptions and expectations in class. Another significant step is establishing yourself as their mentor. It is an excellent way to combat absenteeism, because students are more motivated to attend classes if they know their teacher cares about them and will help them succeed.

Personal connection with your students can also raise their intrinsic motivation to learn. When students feel interested in their work for the sake of mastering it, they develop a love of learning that will benefit them for their entire lives. Plus, they’re also more likely to have positive attitudes towards their teachers, classes, and lessons. When students focus less on grades and more on mastery, they’re on their way toward a successful school career.

A teacher’s impact on their students can last long after the end of the school year. After a student has a meaningful connection with their teacher, they’re more likely to form similar relationships in the future. Because these relationships can give students the guidance and support they need to succeed, it is essential to nurture them in class. This is especially helpful for older elementary children, as strong teacher-student relationships can help ease the transition into middle school.

The author is Teacher

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III at Cabetican Elementary School - Madapdap