Why Build Rapport with Students?

To create an environment that is safe and engaging for all learners: 

• Creating an Environment of Respect and Rapport

To create an inclusive Classroom Community:

• Mapping Your Heart – view this video to learn about Heart Mapping, invented by Georgia Heard, as one strategy to begin building an inclusive classroom community.

Strategies to Build Rapport with Students:

Building rapport with students from the beginning of a placement allows Teacher Candidates to make connections early and start forming relationships, even in the Virtual Teaching & Learning Environment.

• Spend time getting to know your students – 

• Access students’ “Funds of Knowledge” via a Family Survey or Inventory, such as this one from the Teaching Tolerance website: Family Interview. 
• Ask students to share any extenuating circumstances you should be aware of regarding their learning. Students can submit their response in writing, or as a video or audio recording. Flipgrid is a user-friendly video-based platform to use with students. 
• Restorative Circles:

• Create a Classroom Community: Be intentional when creating and nurturing your class community – 

• 6 Ideas for Creating a Remote Community of Learners: Online article with actionable suggestions for creating connections in Virtual Teaching & Learning Environments. 
• What I Wonder About Heart Map: A video with the creator of Heart Maps, Georgia Heard, modeling how to create a “What I Wonder About” Heart Map.
• Building Rapport Online: Blog Post highlighting tips to make the “online learning experience warm, friendly, and engaging for our young people”, such as SmallTalk or Small Conversations.
• Strategies for Teaching Online: The Ultimate Guide for Educators: You may find the section, “Strategies for Teaching Online: How to Build Rapport and Community with Students”, such as incorporating “purposeful free time”, to be of particular interest.

Maintaining Rapport

Equally important as building rapport with students is maintaining that rapport. Here are some suggestions to maintain connections with students virtually:

• Take adventures with your students
  • Take students on virtual field trips. Visit this blog post, 8 Strategies for Building Belonging with Students and Families Virtually, for virtual field trip ideas.
  • Create a virtual scavenger hunt. Watch this video for ideas: Virtual Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Students.
• Remind students how special they are.
  • Teachers Tell Students How Special They Are: Video of High School teachers telling their students how and why they are special.
  • , 8 Strategies for Building Belonging with Students and Families Virtually, for additional ideas. 

Linked Resources

• Teachers Tell Students How Special They Are
• Students’ Funds of Knowledge
  • Luis Moll video: Funds of Knowledge
  • Funds of Knowledge Theoretical Model
• Heart Map Activity
• Parent Interview/Family Survey from Teaching Tolerance