“Because if not,” he said, “the kid will say, ‘Oh, they’re giving up on me, so I might as well give up on myself.’”įortunately, research has identified practical tips for teachers to help them build caring relationships with students.
One student who faced these kinds of hardships told a researcher that the greatest thing a teacher can do is to care and to understand. A caring teacher can transform the school experience especially for students who face enormous difficulties, such as dropping out or dysfunctional home lives. Science has found that students who have caring relationships with teachers are academically more successful and show greater “pro-social” (or kind, helpful) behavior. Be curious about others, yourself, and the world this month
