Teachers connecting with students key to success

This contributes to poor motivation and low self-esteem. Consequently, many students don't care because nobody else cares.

During my early years of teaching, this was very evident. I decided to attend a conference in an effort to learn how to connect with poor-performing students. This was the most interesting, informative, exciting conference I could have ever attended. A brilliant social scientist by the name of Constance Dembrosky opened my eyes to how and why we must connect with students as teachers/mentors.

Upon returning to Hueneme High the next Monday, I stood at my classroom door shaking hands and greeting my students as they entered. From that day on, I slowly incorporated the techniques I had learned. The relationship between my students and me became clear and the performance of the class improved.