THE PEOPLE WE ARE

Good relationships between teachers and students, as well as among students themselves, foster a sense of belonging, enhance motivation, and improve overall academic and social outcomes. Here are strategies to build and maintain these vital connections in the classroom.

Show Genuine Interest and Care

• Learn About Your Students: Take time to learn about your students' interests, hobbies, and backgrounds. This can be done through informal conversations, surveys, or interest inventories during the first days of school. Also, don't forget about NEW students! This should be on your checklist for you to give your new students to your classroom!

• Be Approachable: Create an open-door policy where students feel comfortable coming to you with their concerns or successes. Show that you are available and willing to listen. 

• Celebrate Individuality: Recognize and celebrate each student. This can be done through spending time with each of your students one at a time. There are no shortcuts. Make moments with each student by being intentional during the moments when you first come into the classroom, or before you leave. Also, take time to walk around the room and have a ongoing conversations with each kid about a topic of their interest. 

Foster Open Communication

• Active Listening: Listen attentively when students speak. Show that you value their opinions by nodding, making eye contact, and responding thoughtfully. It also helps to repeat back what they said in your own words, mixed with empathy, so they know you care! 

• Encourage Questions: Create an environment where students feel safe to ask questions without fear of judgment. Praise curiosity and provide thoughtful answers. Be sure NEVER to use sarcasm as an answer, or you will squash anyones attempt at putting themselves out there. 

• Regular Check-Ins: Schedule regular one-on-one check-ins with students to discuss their progress, challenges, and goals. This shows that you are invested in their success. A daily 1 minute meeting can provide valuable insight over a weekly 10 minute meeting! I would suggest having 10 meetings during the opening moments of the class each day, and after lunch. If you need more, they can wait until tomorrow, unless they can't...you know what I mean! 

Build Trust and Respect Regarding Discipline, Routine, and Rule Following!

• Consistency and Fairness: Be consistent and fair in your expectations and treatment of students. This helps build trust and respect.

• Respect Boundaries: Understand and respect students' personal boundaries. Be mindful of their comfort levels and cultural backgrounds. Don't force kids to open up, but always be willing to hear them when they are ready!

• Empathy and Understanding: Show empathy by trying to understand things from the students' perspectives. Acknowledge their feelings and experiences by saying it aloud to them to prove you understand. Also, don't cut off kids when they are expaining thing, even if you already understand. They need to feel heard and from their point of view, they want to share it all! 

Cultivating a classroom environment where genuine interest, care, and respect is foundational to fostering student engagement and success. By taking the time to learn about each student's interests, being approachable and celebrating their individuality, teachers create a supportive atmosphere where open communication flourishes. Active listening, encouraging questions, and regular check-ins further reinforce trust and respect, ensuring consistency, fairness, and empathy in discipline and routine. This holistic approach not only enhances learning but also nurtures a sense of belonging and mutual respect essential for a positive educational experience.

Teacher Effort Based Phrases 

Encouraging Effort and Persistence

1. "I can see how hard you've been working on this. Great effort!"

2. "Mistakes are a part of learning. What can we learn from this?"

3. "Keep going, you’re getting closer!"

4. "It’s not about being perfect, it’s about improving. And you’re improving!"

5. "Every challenge you face is an opportunity to grow and get better."

Praising Improvement and Growth

1. "Remember when this was difficult for you? Look at how much easier it is now!"

2. "I noticed how you applied what you learned from your last mistake. That’s fantastic!"

3. "Your skills are growing because you keep practicing and trying."

4. "Seeing you apply feedback and improve is impressive."

5. "The improvement you’ve made is remarkable. How did you get here?"

Reframing Setbacks and Mistakes

1. "Mistakes are proof that you’re trying and learning."

2. "What can we learn from this mistake?"

3. "Don’t be afraid to fail. Be afraid not to try."

4. "Each mistake brings you one step closer to the right answer."

5. "Let’s think about what we can do differently next time."

Using these phrases consistently can help create a classroom culture where students feel safe to take risks, make mistakes, and embrace the journey of learning and growth.

Student Self Talk

Helping students improve their self-talk can significantly impact their mindset and overall attitude towards learning and challenges. Here are some phrases that contrast an old, fixed mindset with a better, growth-oriented mindset focused on self-empowerment and improvement:

Old Mindset vs. Better Mindset

Old Mindset: "I can't do this."

Better Mindset: "I can't do this yet... but I'm going to keep trying."

Old Mindset: "I'm not good at this."

Better Mindset: "I'm getting better at this every day with practice."

Old Mindset: "This is too hard."

Better Mindset: "This is hard, but I can do it."

Old Mindset: "I'll never understand this."

Better Mindset: "I will understand this if I keep working at it."

Old Mindset: "I'm a failure."

Better Mindset: "Failure is just a step towards success."

Old Mindset: "I'm not smart enough."

Better Mindset: "I can get smarter through hard work and effort."

Old Mindset: "I always make mistakes."

Better Mindset: "Mistakes are part of life and learning."

Old Mindset: "I'll just give up."

Better Mindset: "I'll keep trying until I get it right."

Old Mindset: "I don't understand this."

Better Mindset: "What can I do differently to understand this better?"

Old Mindset: "I'm bad at this subject."

Better Mindset: "I can improve with time and effort."

Old Mindset: "It's good enough."

Better Mindset: "I can always find ways to improve."

Old Mindset: "I'll never be as good as them."

Better Mindset: "I can learn from others and improve myself."

Old Mindset: "I can't make a difference."

Better Mindset: "I can make a difference by trying my best."

Old Mindset: "I'm not creative."

Better Mindset: "I can develop my creativity with practice."

Old Mindset: "I'm afraid to make a mistake."

Better Mindset: "Making mistakes is part of learning."

Old Mindset: "I can't improve."

Better Mindset: "I can always keep learning and getting better."

Old Mindset: "It's too late to change."

Better Mindset: "It's never too late to learn something new."

Old Mindset: "I failed."

Better Mindset: "I haven't succeeded yet, but I will keep trying."

Encouraging students to replace their old, fixed mindset phrases with these growth-oriented alternatives can empower them to approach challenges with a more positive and resilient attitude. This shift in self-talk can lead to greater perseverance, better problem-solving skills, and ultimately, more successful and fulfilling learning experiences!

1. Alligator Claps:

   • "Alligator, alligator, snap, snap, snap! Good job, good job, clap, clap, clap!"

   • Motions: Pretend to snap like an alligator with hands, then clap enthusiastically.

2. Hooray Cheer:

   • "Hooray, hooray, hip hip hooray! Well done, well done, hip hip hooray!"

   • Motions: Jump up with arms raised on "Hooray", clap hands on "Well done", and cheer with "Yay!"

3. High Five Chant:

   • "High five to the left, high five to the right, you did great today, now let's celebrate with all our might!"

   • Motions: Raise left hand for "high five to the left", then right hand for "high five to the right", then pump fists in the air for celebration.

4. Starburst Cheer:

   • "Starburst, starburst, twinkle, twinkle, shine! You're amazing, you're awesome, you're one of a kind!"

   • Motions: Extend arms out like a starburst, twinkle fingers, and then point to the student or group being praised.

5. Round of Applause:

   • Clap clap clap "Great job, (student's name)! Clap clap clap 

   • Motions: Clap hands in a rhythm literally going in a circle while chanting, focus clapping towards the student or group being praised.

6. Rockstar Dance:

   • "You're a rockstar, rockstar, shine so bright! Jump and Dance and shine your light!"

   • Motions: Pretend to strum a guitar, then dance and shine with arms overhead like a star.

7. Hero Power Up:

   • "Up, up, up like a hero you fly! Showing courage, bravery, reaching for the sky!"

   • Motions: Stand tall and extend arms upwards like flying, then flex muscles to show strength.

8. Rainbow Cheers:

   • "Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet too! You've got the skills, you've made it through!"

   • Motions: Use hands to gesture each color of the rainbow, and then throw imaginary confetti in celebration.

9. Cheerleader Chant:

   • "Go team go, let's give a cheer! (Student's name) rocks, we're shouting loud and clear!"

   • Motions: Pretend to shake pompoms or raise imaginary megaphones while chanting.

10. Victory March:

    • "March, march, march to victory! (Student's name) leads with great tenacity!"

    • Motions: March in place energetically, then point proudly towards the student or group being celebrated.

These chants and songs can be adapted and modified based on the age group and preferences of the students. They add fun and positivity to the classroom environment while celebrating achievements and efforts.