"Students will perform better both academically and behaviorally if they trust the teacher."
- Todd Whitaker
Reflect on these ways of establishing trust:
-Be there.
-Show you care.
-Communicate regularly.
-Celebrate success.
-Value diversity and dissent.
-Address underperformance.
-Demonstrate personal integrity.
Which of these ways of establishing trust is easier for you than others?
If any are difficult, why? And what steps can you take to help make them easier?
What other ways can trust be established?
How can trust be broken?
To do:
Post a response to the following question and reply to another's post.
How does trust impact your relationship with students, parents and staff?
As Ronald Reagan said "Trust but verify". I trust most everyone until they give me reason not to. I gain trust by applying the Golden Rule to all aspects of my life, including teaching.
ReplyDeleteThis is so true! You must show your students that you trust them no matter what.
DeleteTwo ways you can't go wrong. Quoting Reagan and living by the Golden Rule! Nicely worded my friend!
ReplyDeleteTrust can take so long to build and so quickly to lose. It takes work every day to establish that relationship and a parent will be on your side if they know you truly have their kid's best interest at heart. Great strides can be realized in the classroom if a kid knows you are sincere and will do what you can to make them successful!
ReplyDeleteTotally agree!! Furthermore, when conflicts arise, I refuse to allow awkwardness or strain to come between the relationship. Talk it out until things are better than before!
DeleteI agree that you can lose trust so quickly. Every action and communication must be thought out.
DeleteIn the words of Dr. Seuss, "Sometimes the question is complicated but the answer is simple". Kindness Matters! 💙 They will remember even the smallest acts of kindness!
ReplyDeleteBuilding on what Stephanie stated above, trust creates the positive atmosphere in the classroom, or maybe that's vice versa. When kindness and caring becomes the number one feelings about school, the classroom etc, parents will have faith in what we're doing as professionals. Accessibility between parents, students, and teachers also strengthens this bond.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with Mr. Atchley! Capture a kid's heart and they will give you all they have! A positive learning environment creates trust and shows our students how much we care.
ReplyDeleteReagan was an incredible role model, I think that is why we trusted him so much! Earning trust in the classroom is so important and I think it starts with being a positive role model. At times I think that includes admitting you might not have the answer but you'll work to find it for them. Other times it could be an apology for a short coming of your own, re teaching a topic where the message was missed. If you show them they can count on you to listen and be in tune with what they are taking away from class they will trust you as a leader.
ReplyDeleteLove this! We talk about Positive Polly/Paul vs Negative Ninny/Ned. The kids will catch themselves and giggle.
DeleteMarlo hit it right on the money on how I feel. When I sit down with a student in a classroom I often let the student know if I do not know the answer to what they are working on. I let the student know we will work together to learn the lesson. It puts the student at ease and I am on my way to earning their trust.
DeleteCommunication is key, and sometimes the hardest part for me to deal with. Often there's not enough time in the day to get everything done and some of that communication is lost. Trust is also big and it's one of the many key parts to establishing those great relationships. I tell my kiddos that it takes more effort to be mean than it does to be nice!! I also keep the parents in the loop. I want them to know that I am totally committed to their child's success!
ReplyDeleteI agree, sometimes in the whirlwind of the day it is hard to make sure I've communicated everything the way that I wanted.
DeleteTrust is developed inside & outside of the classroom. Interacting with students in the summer, on holidays, & during their extracurricular activities shows them how much you care & develops trust! Another great way to develop trust is to show your flaws to your students, once they realize you are not perfect, they are more likely to open up & to trust!
ReplyDeleteAnother thing is to tell your students the truth in love. Being truthful with them causes them to trust you!
DeleteI was a little worried after doing the PD because some of the ESL students will text me over the summer. Nothing at all over the line but I don't want the teacher/student line drawn. I realized that they just need someone to show that they care and I do and they know it!
DeleteShana turned us on to the message app called Remind. She's right when she said that there is not enough time in the day, and with this app it literally takes two minutes to compose and communicate a quick reminder to parents. Sometimes I'll use it to send kudos home after a really great day of learning. I'll tell parents how much I love teaching their kiddos and you should see the replies! I'm hoping these messages build trust between myself and my classroom parents. Like Bobby said, if the parents know you have their child's best interest at heart, they will have your back.
ReplyDeleteI agree that open communication with the parents builds trust. Safety in the classroom builds trust with the kids. Trust with co-workers---that just makes our job even better!
ReplyDeleteI agree that if your classroom is a safe place it will build that trust with your students.
DeleteIt is important that you build trust with your students and parents. Everyone has made such insiteful comments and all of them are important in building trust. Communication, safety, respect, and being truthful equals trust.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! It is a combination of all of these things that each day we need to strive to focus on.
DeleteI believe the first step to gaining trust is to be genuine. I want my students, parents, and colleagues to feel/know that their ideas, thoughts, and feelings are important to me. Kindness, respect, communication, and a genuine concern for another's well being build the layers of trust from the ground up.
ReplyDeleteBuilding trust is being truthful and genuine in your classroom. I like the golden rule and strive to follow it myself. To gain respect, I must respect others including students. Communicating with and loving your students stresses to them of their importance from the very beginning.
ReplyDeleteActions definitely speak louder than words. You can't just tell the kids you care, you show them everyday that you want them to do their best. Once they know you want the best for them, trust begins to develop with them and their parents.
ReplyDeleteJohn, I totally agree with your statement. Once students and parents know that you genuinely care about them, it's amazing how hard the student will work for you, and how much progress they can make.
DeleteWhen kids know that you care about them and want the best for them it creates trust. Kids are going to mess up, but everyday is a new day and we start with a clean slate. I hope that helps to build that foundation of trust.
ReplyDelete"Trust is built with consistency." --Lincoln Chafee
ReplyDelete"Learning to trust is one of life's most difficult tasks." --Isaac Watts
Trust in the classroom starts with us.
I agree that trust is built with consistency and some of our kids will need more time than others. Great quote.
DeleteI have learned as a para to not make promises I cannot keep to students. I follow the rules of the classroom just like the students do and I always let the students know this. Being honest and showing I care is how I earn trust.
ReplyDeleteCommunication is key. It helps the process of building both trust and enhancing relationships. It helps keep me connected with my students and vise versa. It also keeps everyone committed to doing their part.
ReplyDelete"Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care."~Theodore Roosevelt
ReplyDeleteStudents need to know that you care about them and that they can trust you. Students will produce their best work, when they have a trusting relationship with their teacher.
I believe that when a student trusts you, that means they know you're in their corner. We're here to help them in school and in life and it's nice for them to know that they have a cheerleader. When you form those relationships with your students, it completely changes their classroom performance.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. They need cheerleaders and people in their corner. Trusting relationships can change your whole dynamic in your classroom.
DeleteTrust is everything. When you trust your students they feel a sense of respect, they feel important and cared about. I believe this will motivate them to want to perform their very best in your classroom. It takes work to create trusting relationships with your students, parents, and staff members but the hard work will pay off.
ReplyDeleteTrust is necessary in order for students to achieve their full potential. It is part of the hierarchy of needs right above physical needs being met. I realized this summer in summer school that some of the students have their physical needs but that is all so I will work with building their psychological needs this school year (ESL).
ReplyDelete"Trust is the easiest thing in the world to loose, and the hardest thing in the world to get back." R Williams
ReplyDeleteHow does trust effect my relationship with parents, sudents, and staff, unfortunately with students and parents if trust is broken, it is extremely hard to get it back within the course of the school year, you just do the best you can to make it a functional relationship.
I agree, it is important to create a functional relationship when trust is lost. You are correct in that within the parameters of time we have, the trust may never be regained.
DeleteI agree, it is important to create a functional relationship when trust is lost. You are correct in that within the parameters of time we have, the trust may never be regained.
DeleteListening to others is something I continuously work on. I am a problem solver so my first inclination to to just interrupt and give possible solutions. Not everyone wants a solution but the opportunity to vent or be heard. Active listening, caring about those who are speaking, and following through with commitments are ways to develop trust with those around you. I will trust until given a reason not to and then I will be wary of that person, well probably forever since in the case of students and parents, I might never spend a long enough time around them to gain the trust back.
ReplyDeleteI think being consistent in everything (our expectations in the classroom and of our students, consequences for not following the guidelines, etc) helps to build the trust that is needed in our school. That way, there is no question, everyone should know where they stand.
ReplyDeleteTrust is something that I strive to build from the very first day of school with my students, parents, and colleagues. Showing I care, and communicating regularly is something I think is extremely important in building working relationships, and I feel as though I'm usually able to accomplish this goal. Trust can be broken when communication fails, so it's extremely important to me to keep those lines open.
ReplyDeleteTrust is built over time. Some kids are naturally trusting and jump right in with both feet. Others will need time to earn their trust. Setting an example in your class and having a safe environment for your kids are key factors to earning their trust. It is important that the kids can trust one another in the classroom environment so a trusting culture must be developed and nurtured.
ReplyDeleteAgree--the students need to trust each other as well as the teacher.
DeleteYou can build trust with your students, staff and parents by keeping and open mind. Don't jump to judgment so quickly. Once a student knows they can trust you (and you can trust them) they will be more willing to open up and involve themselves in the class room.
ReplyDeleteWith some students you immediately have their trust and with others it takes time. It also takes effort to maintain that trust by being genuine, by showing an interest in the student outside of the classroom & by being an encourager
ReplyDeleteTrust is the best medium to grow success. It creates an environment in which people feel free to be authentic, passionate, committed and willing to share all they have to offer
ReplyDelete