This document summarizes strategies from the book "Connecting with Students" by Allen N. Mendler for developing connections with students who have emotional or behavioral disorders. It discusses developing personal connections through greeting students, learning about their interests, and maintaining contact. It also recommends fostering academic connections by asking open-ended questions, giving adequate wait time for responses, and making lessons relevant. Finally, it outlines strategies for promoting social connections, such as encouraging peer support and problem-solving, and establishing consistent rules and routines.

1. Sp/Ed 478/578 Educational Interventions: Emotional/Behavioral
Disorders
Instructor: Professor Ann Goldade
Assignment completed by Mary-Ann Rolf, June 10, 2009
CONNECTING WITH STUDENTS
BY ALLEN N. MENDLER (2001)

2. Necessary Attitudes & Feelings
Feel compassion & concern (p. 12)
Learn from the students (p. 13-14)
Search to find deeper issues (p. 14-16)
Maintain optimism and persistence (p. 16-17)
Build on student strengths (p. 17)
Value relationship with student (p. 19)
Make classroom safe (p. 20)

3. Personal Connection
 Collect personal index cards (p. 21)
 Smile & greet students (p. 22-23)
 Post pictures of friends & family (p. 24)
 Ask opinions of quiet students (p. 25)
 Offer notes of appreciation (p. 28)
 Establish predictable rules & routines (p. 35)
 Notice absence-phone, e-mail, note (p. 43)
 Have fun together (p. 44)

4. Academic Connection
 Ask open-ended questions (p. 47)
 Offer adequate wait time-10 seconds (p. 48)
 Show students they can overcome obstacles
(p. 49)
 Specify daily learning objectives (p. 52)
 Connect the content with current issues of
meaning (p. 53)
 Use e-mail to communicate with students
and parents (p. 56)

5. Developing Social Connection
 Ask for summary to promote listening (p. 67)
 Encourage students to help with each other’s
problems (p. 69)
 Give students problem-solving tools (p. 69)
 Let students make some of the rules (p. 70)
 Break bread together (p. 77)
 Deal with disrespectful behavior even when it
involves students not in my class (p. 79)