What do you do if your students are resistant to building relationships with you as a new teacher?

Common reasons for students being hesitant to build a relationship with a new teacher could be for a number of reasons. But I feel that one common reason could be is that the teacher is new to the school, and because of this, the teacher might feel like a stranger to the students. However, as time passes, this will change. But it takes effort on the teacher's part too. Really get to know your students, try to figure out their learning styles, and show a positive attitude. That way, students are more likely to open up to the new teacher.

To overcome student resistance to building relationships, show genuine interest, be approachable, find common ground, be patient, lead by example, and seek feedback to improve your approach.

- **Understand Why**: Get to know each student's interests, challenges, and background to see why they might be hesitant. - **Be Consistent**: Show up every day as the dependable figure they can trust. - **Show Interest**: Regularly ask students about their lives and thoughts to show you care. - **Be Patient**: Building trust takes time, so don’t rush the process. - **Respect Boundaries**: Recognize and honor the personal space and limits of each student. - **Engage Them**: Find topics or activities that light up their interest and make these a part of your interactions. - **Be Yourself**: Share a bit about your own interests and personality so they see you as a person, not just a teacher.

Feel free to share a bit about yourself. You are not just a teacher, and students are not just students. We are human beings, and we have a life outside of the classroom. A fun activity to do could be Hello Bingo, where you have a given scenario in each box, and then you ask around the class to see who fits with that scenario. Once that is done, share around the class who fits with each scenario. Chances are people will have things in common. If you are just coming back from summer vacation, share what you did, and have your students do the same. You could also discuss what you did on the weekend or over the holiday break. This is a great way to spark some conversation, and maybe some new friendships!

Active listening is a crucial skill for teachers to have in the classroom. Show your students empathy, and perhaps share a similar experience you may have had when you were a student, that way they don't feel alone and judged. You can also ask questions where appropriate, and verify what they said to show them you were really listening. Active listening rules and builds trust among people!

As a teacher, involve your students in some of the decision-making where appropriate. Let them choose a topic for their own assignment. Let them complete their homework in the free time they have in class so that they have less to take home. If they want no homework on weekends or over holiday breaks, perhaps devote a chunk of class time to homework completion and independent work. The less they have to take home, the happier they will be!