Chapter 11 page 238
Figure 11.3: Teacher strategies to communicate caring
Community building-activities. A good way to help students form connections with their
classmates is through the use of community-building activities. Community-building activities are class
activities that help students learn more about each other as persons or that help students learn to work
together as a team. In general, community-building activities fall into two categories. (1) Get-to-know-you
activities are ice-breaking activities that provide students with the opportunity to learn new things about
their classmates. These are typically done when a group of students first comes together. The goal is for
students to learn about each other so that they will feel a more personal connection. (2) Team-building
activities are activities that require the whole class or a small group to work together to accomplish a task
Strategies to Communicate
Academic CaringRegularly evaluate whether students are
achieving learning goals, and remediate
as needed.
Reflect carefully on each students’ written
and oral academic work, so that you gain
a detailed understanding of how to help
each student.
Invite students to come to get help, and be
available at times when they can come
(before school, after school, during lunch,
etc.).
Call students on the phone to provide help
when they need it or to tell them how
well they are doing if they have achieved
their learning goals.
Use the principles of instructive feedback
discussed in Chapter 10.
Work with students to help them build the
content knowledge and strategic
knowledge to regulate their own learning
successfully.Strategies to Communicate
Personal CaringLearn all students’ names quickly at the
beginning of the year.
Learn personal details about each student
(i.e. favorite sport, hobby or book, or
something important going on in their
lives).
Outside of class, talk with students about
their personal lives.
Use examples from students’ lives out of
class to illustrate academic concepts.
Be available to talk to students if they show
a desire to talk about personal issues.
(But be aware that some issues should
be referred to a school counselor.)
Go to student performances and club
activities (soccer games, swim meets,
theater performances, debates,
concerts, club fundraising activities,
etc.).
Share with students aspects of your own
personal life.Other General StrategiesSmile!
Greet students at the door.
Project a sense of humor.
Be a real person (not just a teacher); tell students
about your own life out of the classroom.
Avoid sarcasm with students; they are likely to
feel hurt rather than amused.