Here's how you can foster a positive student-teacher relationship to prevent conflicts.

I believe most teachers make a genuine effort to connect with their students, but the reality is that it's not an exact science. What works for one student may not work for another. Therefore, it's important not to overthink it. Focus on what works in the moment.

Building connections and rapport during positive moments, like making phone calls home, writing in diaries, or sending letters with good news, sets a strong foundation. When it comes time to address discipline or send home criticism, it’s more likely to be received openly, as it’s clear the teacher is supportive and invested in the child’s success. Be positive early and often… that way if you need to be negative or critical later it is set up to be much more effective!

We know trust in the classrooms leads to increases engagement, retention and results. The 4 C theory. is what I found most relevant to trust in the classroom. 1. Compassion - having understanding for one another through asking meaningful questions. 2. Consistency - How you talk to one student has to be the way you talk to all students. 3. Character - Be authentic and share real stories to show who you are. 4. Competence - Be prepared, be ready and be engaged.

Foster a positive student-teacher relationship by building trust and showing respect. Communicate openly and listen actively to students' concerns. Be approachable and empathetic, creating a supportive classroom environment. Set clear expectations and be consistent with rules. Encourage collaboration and celebrate successes. Address issues promptly and fairly. By maintaining a positive, respectful atmosphere, you can prevent conflicts and promote a harmonious learning environment.

1. Build trust by demonstrating competence. Everyone wants to know that the person in authority know what they're talking about. 2. You can also build trust by making commitments and keeping them - even as simple as being punctual. 3. A lack of judgement will also go a long way towards establishing trust. If you want students to be honest with you, you need to avoid showing judgement if they say something that makes you feel uncomfortable. Many don't show judgement through words, but show it clearly through non-verbal indicators.

Practice active listening. Use verbal encouragers but also work on body language that communicates openness to new ideas. This will look different in every culture but will often include an open stance, nodding, open hands.

Setting boundaries goes beyond a single conversation and requires explicit teaching of classroom procedures and expectations. Why is this important? Learning brains need predictably in order to function optimally. The brain craves patterns and experiences it can predict in order to conserve energy. Unpredictable environments keep the brain on high alert, draining cognitive resources. By explicitly teaching routines & expectations, the brain is able to relax and focus on learning. Promoting a sense of psychological safety for students through these consistent routines and expectations sets the brain up for success while taking into consideration the wide range of backgrounds and experiences that students are walking into the room with.

Set boundaries in student-teacher relationships by establishing clear, consistent rules and expectations from the start. Communicate these boundaries openly and ensure students understand them. Maintain professionalism in all interactions and avoid overstepping personal lines. Encourage respectful communication and behavior. Be firm but fair in enforcing rules. Regularly revisit and reinforce boundaries to ensure a safe, respectful, and effective learning environment.

One way of very quickly damaging a students' learning experience is to treat them unfairly. Unfair treatment strikes at the very heart of a person. Ensure fair treatment by taking time to plan how you approach an issue requiring judgement. Identify any potential biases that may affect your judgement and take active measures to minimise their effects. Plan your approach carefully. Ensure you listen to every possible perspective before making a decision.