School starts on Monday here in Manatee County and teachers here spent all this past week getting their rooms ready and, of course, going to meeting after meeting after meeting after meeting …

Many of the meetings were a complete waste of time, some were good, and one was excellent.

Let’s focus on the excellent one…

My principal had us read nine different descriptions of typical middle school students. We then had to decide which one description best fit us when we were in middle school. Once we made our choice we had to form new groups…each new group was made up of teachers who all picked the same description.

Next, we had to work in those groups to come up with teaching strategies we currently use or should use to help that type of middle school student succeed in school.

Once we finished, each group had to present their results.

What I found interesting was the underlying theme in each group’s response…

It did not matter whether you labeled yourself as a jock who went to school just for the sports, or a nerd who always tried to please the teacher, or the shy kid who tried to hide in the classroom, or kid who did the least amount of work he had to just to get by…

Each and every group came up with similar responses that almost all focused on the teacher-student relationship…

When a new school year starts teachers have a great deal of energy and enthusiasm, but that can quickly fade when teachers become overwhelmed with grading, lesson planning and, of course, meeting after meeting after meeting…

It is essential however, that teachers don’t lose sight of how important the teacher-student relationship truly is…

Do NOT underestimate the impact that this relationship has on student learning.

I know it can be difficult for teachers to foster this relationship…especially at the middle school and high school level with teachers having as many as 140 students (even more for elective teachers).

However, teachers need to try…just think about yourself when you were that age and what would have helped you succeed as a student. Well guess what? That is the same thing that will help many of your students succeed today in your own classroom.

The fact is…the teacher-student relationship truly is one of the most important factors governing student learning.

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A new school year is right around the corner…will you be ready?

To gain an arsenal of effective teaching strategies that will improve your relationship with your students, make sure to read…eTeach: A Teacher Resource for Learning the Strategies of Master Teachers @ www.TeachingTeacher.com

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