Giving Compass' Take:

• A teacher explains why relational teaching, which focuses on small moments between students and teachers, is important for student growth. This teaching style can help students feel 'seen' by their teachers. 

• How can relational teaching work in tandem with social-emotional learning? 

• Read about the importance of students having human teachers. 

We rarely discuss the role of belief in schools. Yet belief is an essential part of the ecosystem. Students look to their teachers to be their mentors and motivators. They want to be validated for their effort, thoughts, and ideas. They are hungry for people to believe in and for people who believe in them. Teachers, in turn, want to be believed in for the work they do to motivate, challenge, and explore.

Because of the instability of the outside world, schools should become havens for belief in everyone’s potential. They should be lauded not just for standardized test scores but also for the positive growth that results when students are challenged to succeed. They should be spotlighted for prioritizing individual connection and respected for the relational communities they strive to become.

Relational teaching is not about carving out blocks of time for connection (e.g., “Thursday fourth period is devoted to relational time”). Rather, relational teaching focuses on the micro-moments that count: The sidebar conversation between teacher and student as they walk down the hallway together.

Imagine the power generated from such connection. Learning improves, because, having made such relational connections — taking time to build a trust-based connection — the teacher becomes more emboldened to challenge her students.

It is time to value belief as an essential component of teaching and learning, to build relational schools that both challenge and inspire. It is time to prioritize the micro-moments as ripe with opportunity for connection. It is time, because everyone — student and teacher — rises when they feel seen, heard, and believed in.

Read the full article about relational teaching by Nat Damon at The 74