I regularly emphasize the importance of building relationships with students — in my teaching practice, here in my blog, and in my books. It’s a reflection of my nineteen-year community organizing career — we say that organizing is just another name for relationship-building.

I thought it might be useful to share some related resources — both showing research and providing “how-to” suggestions. Feel free to suggest others.

Here are my choices for The Best Resources On The Importance Of Building Positive Relationships With Students:

Robert Marzano has a short and useful article in this month’s issue of Educational Leadership. It’s titled Relating to Students: It’s What You Do That Counts.

The Power of Positive Relationships is by Tara Brown, and appeared in Middle Ground.

Resilience, Research, and Educational Reform is by Sue Truebridge at ASCD.

The Relationship Balance by Cindi Rigsbee at Educational Leadership.

Here are some of my own posts on the topic:

Communicating With Students

I’ve Never “Motivated” A Student

“Be Niiiiiicccccceeeee”

The Value Of Sharing Positive Events

The Key To Disaster Survival? Friends And Neighbors is an NPR report on a new study documenting the importance of relationships. Though it doesn’t talk specifically about relationships and educations, the connections are pretty obvious.

Relationships Matter by Sean Slade is not a new study, but is an excellent compilation of studies highlighting the importance of positive teacher/student, family/school, teacher/teacher, and student/student relationships.

Feedback is welcome.

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