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5 Strategies for Building Positive Teacher-Student Relationship during eLearning
“The strength of our student relationships makes the difference in translating our passion for teaching into their passion of learning” (Beth Morrow, 2019). It is well known that it is extremely important for educators to build a positive relationship with their students because it will make it easier for the educator to deliver the content and the learner to receive and retain it.

Combining the research of multiple scholars and educational doctors with regards to the importance and strategies of building a positive teacher-student relationship, they can be summed up into 5 main strategies.

Reasons Behind the Strategies
“The strength of our student relationships makes the difference in translating our passion for teaching into their passion of learning” (Beth Morrow, 2019). It is well known that it is extremely important for educators to build a positive relationship with their students because it will make it easier for the educator to deliver the content and the learner to receive and retain it.

Combining the research of multiple scholars and educational doctors with regards to the importance and strategies of building a positive teacher-student relationship, they can be summed up into 5 main strategies.

To start, looking at Dr. Kristin Gombel, a senior instructional innovation specialist, tips for building and maintaining relationships with students. The three tips that she suggests are; show your face and share your story, build a virtual classroom, and have a presence and establish a routine. (Gombel, 2020) Sharing your story and showing your face opens-up the door for building a relationship, so the student and teacher should get to know one and another. Building the virtual classroom will keep the teacher and student connected, paving another way for teacher-student relationship to develop. Finally, having a presence and an established routine will create an environment where students will feel comfortable and a mutual understanding with the teacher. Dr Von Gobel gives great advice on how to maintain a relationship, she suggests teachers should host informal meetings with students, check-in with students frequently, and consistently connect with the students virtually. Following her advice, students will feel that the teacher cares about them and this will help maintain the already established relationship.

Another very informative article written by Meagan Varga, where she claims “The most powerful weapon teachers have, when trying to foster a favorable learning climate, is positive relationships with their students” (Varga, 2016). Varga believes that building a positive relationship with students will impact the overall educational experience for the students, promoting good behavior and a fruitful learning environment. She suggests multiple strategies a teacher can utilize to build a positive teacher-student relationship. First the teacher should promote control, having a controlled environment where the focus is on the process of learning, monitor individual progress and improvement, and provide opportunities for students to excel. Secondly, teachers should set expectations and attitude. Clearly communicate with the students what is expected of them academically and behaviorally.

Once students know your expectations then it will provide a mutual understanding and respect. Include the students in the development of these expectations, this will show them that they are valued which will improve student-teacher relationships. Thirdly, provide feedback. Feedback is crucial to building a relationship; the teacher needs to give constructive feedback, that will help students improve and not develop a negative feeling towards the teacher. Fourthly, familiarity; teachers should get to know their students, show interest in their students’ lives. Showing students that you respect them and care about them is crucial in building a relationship and students will become more respectful.

Lastly, communication; teachers should have positive voice inflection, body language, and facial expressions. The way the teacher communicates with the students can either make or break the relationship.

There is also a biological need to build positive relationships with students. Kaufman (2020) focuses on the biological link between the brain and the building positive relationships with students. Neuroscience will highlight what happens biologically with the brain when the teacher has built a positive relationship with their students. Kaufman provides four reasons why it's important for teachers to build positive teacher-student relationships. First, it builds motivation, when a teacher and a student have a positive interaction such as praise, the students brain releases dopamine which makes the student feel good and this motivates them to continue the cycle. Secondly, it creates a safe space for learning, socializing, laughing, and simply enjoying your time with them, and causes the body to release the oxytocin hormone which helps the teacher and student to bond with each other. This bond makes the students feel psychologically safe. When students feel safe, this will strengthen a positive relationship where students are more likely to engage in classroom activities and discussions. Thirdly, it builds pathways for learning, “Tapping into students’ background knowledge will help them learn new information by activating neural pathways in their brains.” (Kaufman 2020) This makes it easier for the teacher to teach them the next topic and it also makes it easier for students to learn. Lastly. It improves student behavior, students are more likely to behave with teachers that respect and have a positive relationship with, they would mirror the teacher’s behavior.

There are many strategies that teachers can use to build a positive relationship with their teachers. According to Woodard (2019), an experienced primary and middle school teacher, there are six strategies that a teacher can use to better student teacher relationships. The strategies are; learn names quickly and correctly this will show that the teacher values diversity and identity. Students are never too old for show and tell, this will let the student feel that they are not just another student to the teacher and that they are unique and valued. Post students’ pictures and work; this will remind students that their work is valued, and their efforts are rewarded. Assigning seats and changing them often; this will give students an opportunity to work and learn about each other, eventually connecting all the students within the classroom. Find small ways to connect; the teacher should have small exercises for students to build a better or improve the culture within the classroom. Lastly, simply listen. Teachers should create time to make small talk with their students to break down barriers which will build a positive relationship with the student and promote learning. (Woodard 2019)

Many teachers have struggled to build or maintain a relationship with their students when they were forced to make the big change from in person teaching to virtual eLearning. Zimny (2020) provided five tips for teachers; the first one is that the teacher should connect often and use multiple forms of communication. Communicate with students in ways more than just emails; create videos, screencast, diversify your modes of communication to attend to the student’s needs so the teacher can gain their interest and engagement. Secondly set virtual classroom hours. This is the time where the teacher will be online to welcome students. This is a great opportunity to check on a student's emotional wellbeing and attend to their academic needs. Thirdly, check in with the students individually, create some one-on-one sessions with the students. This will help the teacher connect with the student more and they will feel valued and cared for. Fourthly, communicate with parents, sometimes students are going through challenges at home that the teacher and parent can work together to help the student. Lastly, virtual relationships matter, students may have a greater need for social integrations due to the limitations placed on them from the pandemic. (Zimny 2020)

The 5 Strategies
To conclude, there are five strategies that teachers can use to build a positive relationship with their students. First, get to know the student. Once the teacher knows the student, then he/she can tend to the students’ needs and wants. This will show the student that the teacher cares and will develop a strong bond. Secondly, give constructive feedback, regardless of how poorly the student has done, make sure that your feedback is helpful to the student and does not leave the student feeling like a failure. Thirdly, communicate with students in a positive manner, and be enthusiastic, as this will keep the student engaged and make the student feel that the teacher is approachable. Fourthly, show respect. Respect goes both ways. If the teacher does not respect the student, this will destroy any chance of building a positive relationship, but if the student is respected, the student will mirror this respect creating a fruitful learning environment. Lastly, check on each student individually, this will show the student that they are not just another student, but they are a valued individual.