Your role as a first or second grade teacher is crucial! You create engaging lessons, support your students daily, and communicate with parents. You design your classroom for learning and differentiate instruction for success. But the foundation of it all is building relationships with students. Here are ways to strengthen those connections and help your students thrive!
Students need to feel a sense of belonging in the classroom. Students should feel safe, loved, and respected in their classroom environment. Isn't that what we all want? Real learning can't begin until those emotional needs are met. Keep reading for more ideas on how to build positive relationships with students in the classroom.
Start each day with a greeting and a smile.
Saying “hello” with a handshake, hug, or simply a smile every morning can go a long way to building a healthy classroom environment and strong relationships with your students. By being front and center when your students enter the classroom, you show them they are the priority. Your students are why you come to work every day. Encourage them and show them how much you care every day.
Take an interest in their outside of school lives.
Self-confidence is one of the character skills we focus on in The Social Emotional Learning Curriculum. (Tip: Download the whole curriculum by joining our All Access membership.)
Some students may lack outside support, so be their biggest cheerleader. Ask about their interests to boost their confidence and let them showcase their talents. If a student loves to dance, take a dance break! Attend their events if possible, or encourage them to share videos and stories about their hobbies in class. A great way to do this is with an end-of-day meeting on Mondays or Fridays to discuss upcoming plans.
Start each day fresh.
You’ll likely have a student who has tough days—whether they act out, struggle, or show disrespect. Remind them that each day is a fresh start. While consequences may be needed, it doesn’t change your care for them. Modeling empathy and compassion helps guide them toward positive behavior.
Model positive character skills through read-alouds.
Many students and parents remember the books I’ve shared to teach character skills. I spent a lot of time finding the best ones, which is why I love The Social Emotional Learning Curriculum. It provides year-long lessons and book suggestions for building character, and kids love stories that teach valuable lessons.
Building relationships with students is essential. You might be the person they spend the most time with during the week. Take an interest in their lives, celebrate successes, and support them through challenges to make your classroom feel safe and welcoming every day.
Grab our free SEL Read Aloud lists
Use 30-Second Conversations
A 30-second conversation is as simple as it sounds: students talk with a peer for 30 seconds each day. This can be done during morning meeting, end-of-the-day circle, or any time in between! Choose a student to be your 30-second conversation partner. You can learn a lot about a student in just a short amount of time! 30-second conversations have been shown to help foster a classroom environment of mutual respect, as well as help to foster social emotional skills, like empathy.
To learn more about using 30-second conversations in the classroom, check out this blog post.
Try a morning meeting slide and matching writing prompt:
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Share Your Feelings
Little kids have big feelings—and so do teachers! When emotions run high, take a moment to process them in front of your students. Share personal experiences, admit mistakes, and talk about your own struggles and successes from when you were their age. This shows students that you’re human and approachable, helping to build strong, positive relationships. Another idea, when emotions run too high amongst classmates, try a conflict resolution sheet.
Keep Note!
Keep track of conversations with your students—like their baby brother’s name or favorite hobbies. Ask about these later to show you care. Learn their passions, and tailor lessons to their interests. For example, if a student loves Dogman comics, use that for a writing lesson. Let their talents and interests shine!
Personalize It!
I’ll never forget how my 2nd-grade teacher used our names in spelling test sentences—it made me feel special! Find ways to include your students and their interests in lessons. For example, write personalized word problems: “Jaya scored 2 goals on Wednesday and 1 on Thursday. How many goals in all?” Students love seeing their names, and their classmates learn more about them too!
Roses and Thorns
Try the popular “Roses and Thorns” sharing strategy. Students share a “rose” (a positive moment) and a “thorn” (a challenge). For example, “I was excited to swing at recess but disappointed when Emma wouldn’t share her jump rope.” Discussing highs and lows helps build strong relationships between students and teachers. This activity can grow as trust develops throughout the year.
Teacher Survey and Suggestion Box
Some students may not feel comfortable sharing their needs aloud, and that’s okay! Provide a teacher survey or suggestion box for anonymous notes. Let students know you'll read and reflect on each one. This helps you better understand what’s working and how to support them.
Compliment and Connection Circle
Set aside time each week for a compliment and connection circle. Focus on one student, and let classmates take turns giving compliments or finding connections. Model it by saying, “I want to compliment Javon on his haiku—it made me happy! We also both like the Sixers basketball team!” For more ideas about relationship building activities and sharing circles, check out this blog post!
Rock Out!
Music brings people together! Discover your students' favorite songs and play them during breaks, or create a class playlist from their choices. Let students be the DJ and share their favorite music—this can lead to a fun dance party! This simple change can bring joy and connection to the classroom.
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