“I never teach my pupils, I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.”
-Albert Einstein.
The relationship between student and teacher not only plays a crucial role in the trajectory of a child’s academic success but also in moulding his social persona. For the most part of the schooling years, the child is at an impressionable age absorbing every single experience. Therefore every interaction with the teacher can leave a profound impression on the child, lasting for a lifetime.
As clichéd as it may sound, good teachers understand and are capable of assessing the potential of the students and accordingly maximising their learning experience. What sets this ball rolling in the right direction is definitely being able to develop a positive and respectful relationship with the students from the very beginning. Mutual trust and respect will follow from there.
While passion and the love for imparting knowledge can drive some teachers to be natural at this, others will have to work towards it by implementing certain strategies.
1) Understand that the role of a teacher is multi-faceted
Whether a toddler or a teenager, a child might need a mother figure away from home. Treat the child as your own and help him or she overcomes hiccups. Act as a counsellor in the event of a mental turmoil and be a friend at times of fun. Thus the role of a teacher extends beyond teaching and has varied aspects to it.
2) Establishing control and authority without being rude
The student community is a mixed bag of personalities. Being able to help them perform as a group while taking the lead is extremely important. However, this needs to be accomplished without coming across as authoritative and arrogant.
3) Function within a structure
It is imperative that teachers set the right tone at the very start by establishing clear expectations and being able to sense when boundaries are overstepped. A structured classroom is one that can make each day count, making room for engaging learning activities with little or no downtime.
4) Make learning fun
Igniting the spark of learning in the child has to be considered as the ultimate objective of the teaching profession. Learning can be made a fun activity with interactive sessions and multimedia content. Adding a little dash of humour can trigger learning memories and therefore have better chances of a recall.
5) Go the much needed extra mile
Cultivating an active interest in the child; taking the extra effort to understand his or her background, keeping track of the child’s interests, passions, strengths and weaknesses will work in favour of developing a strong student-teacher relationship. Any gesture from the part of the teacher will help accentuate the relationship and instill confidence in the student.
“The miracle worker-Annie Sullivan’s role in the famous Helen Keller’s life was more than a dedicated caretaker, teacher or a defender- she evolved into Helen’s life-long friend”.
Winmore academy- building teacher-student relationships that last a lifetime.
Winmore Academy brings home the very best of teaching staff, and by that, we do not just mean proficiency in academics but they excel in all-around skills in handling their students. Our teachers make it a point to spend quality time with their students both inside and outside the classrooms. Our team outings and lunch breaks are a testament that our teachers believe that the foundation for learning, social skills and formation of a strong personality in children begins quite early in school. It is set into motion by the right student-teacher relationship.