Teacher And Student Relationship: What is It and Ways to Improve

The focus of a great teacher is on connections and relationships, not on compliance!

(inspired by a famous quote)

Indeed!

Teachers leave a never-ending impact on the lives of students. It is the power of a teacher and student relationship that ignites a love for learning for a lifetime. In this process, they juggle hats to being leaders, friends, and second parents across many stages of our lives. It is the teacher who takes the students through the classroom learning using his/her expertise. Teachers and students relationship is imperative for a successful academic journey.

Let’s unveil some beautiful layers of this topic. And discover what makes the relationship of teacher and student so invaluable for society!

But before we get started with the teacher and student relationship, let’s run down some facts.

By The Numbers

In India, we have around 95.07 lakh teachers (in 2021). And the pupil-teacher ratio is around 26.16 at the primary level.

Elementary	Secondary	Higher Sec	Total Teachers
51.85	16.2	27.01	95.07

What is Teacher and Student Relationship?

Managing the Forefront of Learning

From simple common salt experiments in the lab to the scorching heat of the physical education classes in the summers, our teachers deserve much more appreciation than they ever get.

Trust me when I say that the strength of a positive teacher student relation is unknown to most of us. It builds an authentic bond of trust between them. A good teacher establishes a rapport with students that often supersedes the one that they have with their parents. Good teachers care, lead, and understand the exact learning requirements.

End result?

Students feel that they are heard, and trusted. The magical teacher and students bond makes the most mundane subjects/topics joyous and fun.

Experts have proved that teachers can foster a student’s learning. So when there is a close relationship of teacher and student, good learning is bound to follow.

The Level and Quality of Learning

A good teacher and student relationship is always at the center of a memorable educational experience.

The power of a teacher manifests a wave of positive emotional involvement, resulting in better quality learning.

<UNESCO considers ‘Teaching and Learning’ as one of the most important quality and learning indicators. Because teaching methods, learning time, assessment, class size, etc. affect the overall level and quality of learning. >

Different students learn in different ways. Besides, teachers and students relationship is what transforms an ordinary learning experience into a superlative one.

Holistic Growth and Development Including SEL

Picture a relationship of teacher and student full of trust and understanding.

It can cascade to better academic achievements and produce gains like better peer relationships. When a teacher shares a close bond with students, he/she draws them to the process of learning by instilling a zeal to learn. This makes students more involved. And provides impeccable opportunities for all-round development.

International experts highlight that a healthy teacher student relation largely helps the latter in developing socially (socio-emotional learning or SEL). For many reasons like these, top online schools hire the industry’s best talent to ensure the holistic development of their students.

Now that we are through this much about the teacher and student relationship, it’s time for some ways to build these relationships.

3 Ways to Build a Positive Relationship Between Teacher and Students in Online Schools (and Traditional Schools)

1. Ignite Enthusiasm in Your Students

A small act of humor, voice modulation, gestures, facial expressions, and lots of real-life examples have something in common.

These are the powerful tools in the hands of an able teacher to ignite enthusiasm in students. Enthusiasm is another key determinant that supports teachers and students relationship in the long run.

Golden rule here!

An enthusiastic teacher always sets the right tone for the day/class. So take some time, and go beyond your regular strategies to establish a connection with enthusiasm.

2. Create a Safe Space

Before we discuss the teacher student relation further, let’s discuss some facts.

Bullying facts across 9 cities in India:

46% of the students between classes 4 to 8 experienced bullying instances.
36% of students studying from classes 9 to 12 experienced similar instances.

Substance use facts (according to a survey):

More than 10% of the students enrolled in classes 8 to 12 consumed drugs.
40% of the surveyed students saw at least one family member using alcohol and tobacco.

Have you ever wondered how a teachers and students relationship can make our classrooms safer?

We cannot ignore the crude realities of the safety aspects in Indian classrooms. But again, it’s not as simple as it sounds!

Many of us constantly strive hard to eliminate concerns like safety and improve inclusiveness in classrooms.

But can we expect to fulfill learning endeavors with these burning issues?

Of course not!

Good relationship of teacher and student creates a layer of safety in the classroom. In a safe classroom, students can voice their opinions, and discuss potential or real-life threats without the fear of being judged. So, isn’t this a great advantage of a good teacher and student relationship?

3. Involvement, Reinforcement and Behavior Support

Have you noticed that music, dance, art, and physical education teachers are the most favorite ones?

Yes! These teachers MAKE LEARNING FUN for students!

And this is what makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

Student’s performance and the classroom culture relies heavily on the level of involvement and reinforcement. A research shows that positive reinforcement, behavior interventions, and support create an optimal system for students.

Great teachers create a happy learning environment where teacher and students develop a sense of belongingness and most importantly have fun. They look for opportunities to appreciate them. And go the extra mile to create a deep teacher and student relationship, thereby addressing behavior issues (psychological concerns, emotional and behavior-related issues) that lead to inattentiveness and hyperactivity, etc.

Teachers or second parents also play a pivotal role in the early identification of toxic stress, at-risk behavior, or clinical problems, etc.

After this enlightening information, let’s discuss some tips to strengthen teachers and students relationship.

Quick Tips for Teachers to Create Better Relationships with Students

Be innovative with your approach and try new pedagogies (like flipped learning, presentations, and interactive videos).
Focus on building a rapport (between teacher and students)
Promote ways of collaboration to make the experience close and interactive.
Respect the student’s choices.
Keep the bigger picture in mind, and consider the perceptions of students to help them thrive better.
Design fun-filled online learning tasks to make the learning memorable for them.

Final Thoughts

The impact of a good teacher can never be erased from a student’s life. By focusing on clear communication, building a rapport, and creating a safe environment, all educators can add value to the relationship of teacher and student in the class.

We hope this information will help teachers to know the importance of a good teacher and student relationship and further support them to be their best versions!

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Thanks for Reading!

Frequently Asked Questions

How teachers can build relationships with students?
Good classroom environment, mutual trust, and engaging practices help in building better teachers and students relationship.
What is a strong relationship between student and teacher?
A strong teacher student relation is based on mutual understanding and a bond of unconditional love.
How teachers can promote positive relationship build up in classroom?
Educators can promote teachers and students relationship by creating a safe setting that welcomes all opinions without any judgment.
How can teachers build relationships with difficult learners?
The relationship of teacher and student can help difficult learners thrive better with a bond of trust. Teachers can extend extra support with tailored pedagogies to delve into the issues that hinder the student’s learning.

Building Sustainable Classrooms: The Importance of Teacher and Student Relationship