Developing Positive Relationships

1. Developing Positive
Relationships with
Parents, Students and
other Teachers
Course: Principles & Practice Of Education
By: Carla George
School: University of the Southern Caribbean, Extension Campus - Tobago

2. Introduction
According to Webb (2013), One of the most profound experiences we can have in
our lives is the connection we have with other human beings. Positive and
supportive relationships will help us to feel healthier, happier, and more satisfied
with our lives.
Every relationship we have can teach us something, and by
building positive relationships with others, we will be happier
and more fulfilled and feel more supported, supportive, and
connected.

3. Importance of Positive Relationships
Communication is the basis of our relationships. Therefore, it is important to have positive
communication with others, so that we may have positive relationships.
Relationships with loving and caring adults are primary to the way a child will grow both physically and
emotionally. These nurturing relationships provide stability for any child and encourage every aspect of
their development.
By building positive relationships with others, we will be happier and more fulfilled and feel more
supported, supportive, and connected. It will also encourage self-esteem and a sense of worth.

4. Parent-Teacher Relationships

5. Parent-Teacher Relationships
One of the most important factors in children’s learning: the relationship between parents
and teachers. Having an effective relationship between these two groups of people can help
learners achieve more. Elena Aguilar, a Transformational Leadership Coach from Oakland,
California, mentioned a few tips in an article for us teachers to build positive relationships
with our pupil’s parents. They include:
o Smile when you meet and greet parents
o Be familiar with each of their names

6. Parent-Teacher Relationships
o Declare to them your intensions as the class teacher that their child/children are enrolled
in
o Communicate as often with them using creative forms
o Give positive feedback to them about their child/children
o Ask questions about their child/children
o Be a good listener to the parents
o Invite parents to make daily or weekly visits to the classroom

7. Parent-Teacher Relationships
o Give special thanks to parents who are involved in their child/children’s learning
o Show appreciation to them
o Invite parents to celebrate their child/children’s success in the class
“A positive parent-teacher relationship helps your child feel good about school
and be successful in school,” advises Diane Levin, Ph.D., professor of
education at Wheelock College. “It demonstrates to your child that he can
trust his teacher, because you do. This positive relationship makes a child feel
like the important people in his life are working together.”

8. Teacher-Student Relationships

9. Teacher-Student Relationships
Teachers who foster positive relationships with
their students create classroom environments more
conducive to learning and meet students'
developmental, emotional and academic needs. Sara
Rimm-Kaufman, PhD, and Lia Sandilos, PhD, at
the University of Virginia gave relevant pointers
that can be used to develop a positive teacher-
student relationship.

10. Teacher-Student Relationships
o Show your pleasure and enjoyment of students.
o Interact with students in a responsive and respectful manner.
o Offer students help (e.g., answering questions in timely manner, offering support
that matches students' needs) in achieving academic and social objectives.
o Help students reflect on their thinking and learning skills.
o Know and demonstrate knowledge about individual students' backgrounds,
interests, emotional strengths and academic levels.

11. Teacher-Student Relationships
o Avoid showing irritability or aggravation toward students.
o Acknowledge the importance of peers in schools by encouraging students to be caring and
respectful to one another.
Positive teacher-student relationships draw students into the process
of learning and promote their desire to learn (assuming that the
content material of the class is engaging, age-appropriate and well
matched to the student's skills).

12. Teacher-Teacher Relationships

13. Teacher-Teacher Relationships
According to Derrick Meador, a Teaching Expert for About.com, highlighted that effective teacher to
teacher relationship is vitally essential to your success as a teacher. Education is an extremely difficult
concept for those outside the field to understand. Having peers that you can collaborate with and lean
on during tough times is essential.
The development of positive and professional relationships with your
colleagues does not happen automatically, and is not always easy; it takes
time and effort.

14. Teacher-Teacher Relationships
Listed below are Eleven (11) things to keep in mind when trying to build positive relationships with
faculty and staff members at school:
o Encourage and show kindness and humility -- Never let an opportunity to show kindness or
encouragement to others to pass.
o Be happy – Every day you go to work, you need to make a choice to be happy.
o Refuse to engage in gossip or hearsay -- Don't allow gossip to rule your life.
o Let the water roll off your back –Don’t let negative things said about you get under your skin.
o Collaborate with your peers – Collaboration is vitally essential among teachers.
o Watch what you say to people -- How you say something counts for just as much as what you say.

15. Teacher-Teacher Relationships
o If you make a promise, you better be prepared to keep it -- If you intend to make promises, you had
better be prepared to keep them, no matter what the cost.
o Learn about others’ outside interests -- Find a common interest that you have with others (e.g.
grandchildren, sports, movies, etc.) and spark a conversation.
o Be open-minded -- Do not get into arguments.
o Understand that some peoples’ feelings are hurt easier than others -– Humor can bring people
together, but it can also tear people apart.
o Don’t worry about accolades -- Do your best.

16. Conclusion
In conclusion, the development of positive relationships between you, the teacher and parents,
students and other teachers, does not take one effort, but many. Positive relationships provide
opportunities for learning in all areas of life. Encourage, equip, and teach as you develop that
all important relationship with your child or a child you teach.
Remember that every communication exchange, regardless of format, should reflect a
thoughtful, planned approach and should be viewed as an opportunity for teachers to promote
parent partnerships and, ultimately, to support student learning.

17. Conclusion
Remember that the best teachers are capable of maximizing the learning potential of every
student in their class.
Remember to act professionally at all times, value and respect them, and work with them,
and you will be well on your way to developing positive and supportive relationships with
your colleagues.

18. Resources
Aguilar, E. (2011). “20 Tips for Developing Positive Relationships With Parents”. Retrieved on May 27th 2015 from:
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/20-tips-developing-positive-relationships-parents-elena-aguilar
Meador, D. (2015). “Tips for Effective Teacher to Teacher Communication” Retrieved on Ma 27th 2015 from:
http://teaching.about.com/od/pd/a/Teacher-To-Teacher-Communication.htm
Public Broadcasting Station. “Education”. Retrieved on May 28th 2015 from: http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/going-to-
school/parent-involvement/parent-teacher-partnership/
Rimm-Kaufman, S. and Sandilos, L. (2015) “Improving Students' Relationships with Teachers to Provide Essential
Supports for Learning” Retrieved on May 27th 2015 from: http://www.apa.org/education/k12/relationships.aspx

19. Resources
Webb, L.(2013). “8 Tips for Developing Positive Relationships”. Retrieved on May 27th 2015 from:
http://www.trainingmag.com/content/8-tips-developing-positive-relationships

20. The End