In this video from XQ, students remind us that if we want them to engage, we need to think deeply about how to prioritize 1:1 connections, build relationships, and ensure that the work we are asking students to do is meaningful, not just busy work.
This is not only sage advice from students. It's actually backed up by research! This new research study of 285 districts examined relationship-building strategies compared with the teacher flexibility in assigning challenging and complex work. Researchers highlight:
“When students feel teachers care about them, they work harder, engage in more challenging academic activities, behave more appropriately for the school environment, are genuinely happy to see their teacher, and meet or exceed their teacher’s expectations.”
To ensure meaningful learning, we have to know the learners, help them understand and leverage their strengths, identify and work towards goals that matter to them, and ensure they persist through challenges and setbacks. You can’t do this without building relationships first and maintaining them throughout the learning process.
