Unit Five: Relationship Skills
Introduction
Here we are, at the root of this entire mini-course - why and how relationship skills are so incredibly important in the classroom, workplace, and ultimately life. Having strong relationships with teachers and peers can dramatically enhance a students' level of motivation and all in all, promote their learning. We heard from Mister Brown earlier on in this mini-course but he provides such a great explanation of how making better choices will help you have a better life.
Learning Targets
🎯 List all the positive qualities to building relationships within the classroom.
🎯 Gain new strategies for teaching building relationships.
Lesson One: Qualities to Building Relationships
In Lesson One, we will first begin to understand all of the positive qualities to building relationships within the classroom. While this might seem like a daunting topic, it really does get as simple as authenticity, trust, power and difference, and shared purpose. Lesson One: Qualities to Building Relationships
Authenticity
Authenticity refers to the invitation to be authentic and the ability to embody it. Showing up as your whole self is risk-taking and can be nerve-wracking for students. Therefore, the more w feel that we can be ourselves, the more we can experience a positive space in the classroom. Encouraging students to be themselves and celebrating differences is a great way to help instill authenticity in your classroom. This could look like:
✅ Posters in the classroom
✅ Displaying student work and art projects
✅ Having students names around the classroom
✅ Culturally responsive read alouds
Trust
Trust is the lifeblood of all strong relationships and as an educator, it is your responsibility to earn, build, and communicate it. You want your students to feel like they can count on you to always be a present person in their life. If students see you as a trustworthy figure, they can hopefully copy that attribute to their personal relationships. In an article written by Kerry Hishon, she mentioned five ways to help build trust with your students. Read this article and jot down some of your key takeaways. Establishing Trust with your Students (https://www.theatrefolk.com/blog/establishing-tr ust-with-your-students)
Power and Difference
In building relationships with your students, it is extremely important to define the difference between student and teacher. We see far too many educators try to be their student's friend rather than their teacher. It is very much reachable to build that relationship all the while managing being their teacher.
Strong relationships require the clarity of a shared purpose. Shared purpose being what you are setting out to achieve within the classroom. When a teacher and student can co-exist within the classroom, so much productive learning is done. Edutopia released a video of the power of relationships in schools. It is filled with so much powerful information in building those relationships and having that shared purpose.
Reflection
In this mini-course, reflection and collaboration are an important factor in becoming a skilled SEL educator. Use this link (Reflection Journal) (https://knilt.arcc.albany.edu/index.php?title=Reflection_Journal&veaction=edit) to communicate and reflect with fellow participants on each lesson your complete. Under the section of what unit and lesson you completed, create a subheading beginning with your name (ex. Matilda Contreras - Reflection). Reflections should be about a paragraph long (5- 7 sentences) answering the question stated in each lesson under the reflection title.
How can you apply this learning?
Head on over to Lesson Two to find some more strategies and activities to build and foster relationships within your classroom.
Lesson Two: Strategies for your Teacher Toolbox
In Lesson Two, you will add even more strategies, ideas, and activities to your toolbox to trial and error in your own classroom. You will also have an opportunity to post to a forum a strategy you might already use for other participants of this course to see. Lesson Two: Strategies for your Teacher Toolbox
Quick Connections
In this strategy a selection of question prompts is provided for students to get to know each other. The prompts can be answered in pairs, small groups, or whole group. These brief opportunities for students to communicate with their peers can yield meaningful connections over time. My favorite place to add a quick connect is during Morning Meeting!
I Am Portraits
Students can create self-portraits through drawings, paintings, or even choosing 3-5 words that describe them. The portraits can be displayed throughout the classroom as a visual reminder of the classroom community. This is a super great resource in finding an art lesson that teaches students
the meaning behind an I Am Portrait. Self Portrait Art Lesson for Kids (https://artwithmrse.com/blog s/blog/the-real-me-lesson-celebrating-who-we-are-on-the-inside?srsltid=AfmBOoqv9YBfX4HHt71SL flx9YCHfM4D18bNKIG1Jw8HEyzHkjj9nHzX)
Dance It Out!
This activity stems from one of my favorite tv shows - Grey's Anatomy. Not only does this activity serve as a movement break but it also is a great activity to get to know your students and their music preference. Each student is assigned as the "DJ of the week" to share their favorite song with the class and everyone dances it out. Here would be my song choice!
Teacher Toolbox
As educators, I am sure we all have so many strategies and activities in our back pockets to help build relationships within the classroom. Use this forum to jot down any other strategies and/or activities that you foster in your classroom. Be sure to include the instructions in case any other participants wants to snag some ideas!
Reflection
In this mini-course, reflection and collaboration are an important factor in becoming a skilled SEL educator. Use this link (Reflection Journal) (https://knilt.arcc.albany.edu/index.php?title=Reflection
_Journal&veaction=edit) to communicate and reflect with fellow participants on each lesson your complete. Under the section of what unit and lesson you completed, create a subheading beginning with your name (ex. Matilda Contreras - Reflection). Reflections should be about a paragraph long (5- 7 sentences) answering the question stated in each lesson under the reflection title.
What did you like/dislike about this section?
🎉✨TIME TO CELEBRATE ✨🎉
You did it! You have completed the five units in this mini-course. I hope you are feeling more knowledgeable about SEL in the classroom and confident that you can actively and correctly teach this to your students. The last and final piece of this mini-course involves a final project. Head on over and take a look at your very last assignment in this mini-course. - Final Project