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In Our Schools/Spring 2010
This article is part of In Our Schools/Spring 2010, an Educational Foundations text developed by the students of Old Dominion University's ECI 301. · Foundations · Assessment · In Today's Schools · · About the Authors · How to Use this Book · · Chapter Review · · Student Soap Box ·

Relating to students
Author	User:Ashor012
Book	In Our Schools
Edition	Spring 2010
Section	Foundations
Chapter	Chapter 1 - Being a Teacher
Topic	Relating to Students -- In Class, After School, on Facebook
Reviews
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Contents 1 Relating to Students: In Class, After School, and Facebook                           Allison Short 2 Student-Teacher Relationships. Could The Value Be More Than Just Elementary? 3 Relating To Your Students Can Change Their Lives 3.1 Know the Students 3.2 Pay Attention 3.3 Get involved 3.4 One-on-One 3.5 Be Available 4 Crossing the Line 4.1 Keep Relationships On School Grounds 4.2 Social Networking Sites 4.3 Transparency 5 QUIZ 6 References

Relating to Students: In Class, After School, and Facebook                           Allison Short

Educators often wear many different hats. While they are first and foremost teachers, they also fulfill the roles of counselor, confidant, protector, and law enforcer. It is not uncommon for teachers to refer to their students as “my kids” or “my children”, as if they are commenting on their own biological children. On the same note, young children often mistakenly refer to their elementary school teacher as “Mommy”. The relationships that are formed between teachers and students are unique bonds that can beneficial for each party, respectively. However, it is imperative that each party involved recognize what is and what is not appropriate in their relationships. Teachers must learn the art of walking the line between caring for their student and keeping the relationship professional.

Learning Targets: Students will learn the importance of student-teacher relationships and how a student-teacher relationship can affect the students’ success. Students will learn how to establish and maintain a relationship with their students, both inside and outside of the classroom. Students will learn what an appropriate teacher-student relationship is and what boundaries to establish with their students.

Student-Teacher Relationships. Could The Value Be More Than Just Elementary?

As students grow older, they find that relationships with their teachers become increasingly valuable. Consider the student who is struggling in a college level mathematics course. If this hypothetical student explains to the instructor the struggles they is facing in their class and maintains contact through extra study sessions and progress reports to the instructor, then not only is the professor aware of the issue, but they are also more likely to give the student the benefit of the doubt and curve their grade. While students realize the importance of these relationships as they grow older, the experts suggest these relationships are exponentially more valuable to students when they are younger. Relationships between pre-school and kindergarten teachers and their students have a strong correlation to: academic success, future behavioral patterns, or even risk of school failure or drop out..

A study conducted at The University of Illinois by Sandra Birch and Gary Ladd asked teachers to rate their perceptions of their relationships with each student. Students that had a “conflicted relationship” with their teachers were noted to have patterns of school avoidance, disliking school, lacking self-discipline, uncooperative behavior, and were aggressive towards peers. Those students who had relationships that were characterized by “closeness” were relatively well adjusted compared to peers scoring lower on the closeness scale. Birch and Ladd also found that students who were highly dependent upon their teachers were at a higher risk to be withdrawn and aggressive towards peers. This study shows the correlation between early childhood relationship with educators and adjustment in school through early elementary education (Birch, & Ladd, 1997).

A second study, conducted by Bridget Hamre and Robert Pianta, tested a similar hypothesis over a longer period of time. This study followed 179 students through eighth grade, and found that the patterns established early in life (discovered in the Birch/Ladd study) continued past early elementary education to middle school education (Hamre, & Pianta, 2001).

Although relationships in early education tend to have a greater impact, due to the impressionable age, all student-teacher relationships have the potential to change a student’s life.

Relating To Your Students Can Change Their Lives

Relating to one’s students tends to get harder as they progress through their education. Trying to connect with teenagers can prove to be challenging in high schools; on the other hand trying to connect with a lecture hall full of college freshman on a personal level can prove to be nearly impossible. However, there are some simple guidelines that can help teachers connect with their students. After all, a good relationship with one’s students can have a profound effect on their academic success.

Know the Students

Knowing and understanding the demographic of your students can be very important. One wouldn’t ask a high school class if they enjoy watching children’s programs any more than one would talk to a preschooler about a gory science fiction program. Conduct the proper research. For example, know what your students are watching on television and what kind of music they enjoy. On the contrary, it is important that one maintain their credibility and control of the classroom. In other words, do not become one of the students. One would not want to become “that” teacher.

Pay Attention

One should pay close attention to their student’s attitudes. Early detection can prevent a myriad of catastrophes. If one notices any strange behavior, discretely pull the student aside and ask if everything is going well. They may just be distracted by hunger, but it could be a more serious problem. Students can be distracted for a number of reasons, such as problems in the home, physical discomfort, or conflicts with peers. If one feels that they cannot handle a particular situation on their own, then one should refer the student to a campus counselor or nurse, as they are better trained in physiological and medical emergencies.

Get involved

Get involved in after school activities. Become a mentor, sponsor a club, or coach a sports team. This not only allows one to know their students on a different level, but it also connects one better with other students, teachers, and administrators at your school.

One-on-One

Have one-on-one conferences with your students either once per quarter or once per semester. Discussing grades with one’s students can lead to better progress and increased efforts. One should also provide information on how their students can improve and resources that are available to them, such as: tutoring, study sessions, and extra

Be Available

Being available allows for better communication between students and teachers. Consider arriving early and staying late. In addition, one might consider leaving their lunch hour open. This would allow students to approach their teacher before and after class for extra help or guidance on both assignments and social issues. Moreover, consider giving out your e-mail address and inform students and parents the best ways and times to contact

Crossing the Line

Student-teacher relationships are exceedingly valuable, both to the success of the student and the teacher. Determining what is appropriate and healthy for the student is imperative in these relationships. Learning how to “walk the line” between caring for the students and keeping the relationship professional can be complicated. The consequences of overstepping these boundaries can prove to be immense. Accusations can be damaging to one’s career and the investigation following such accusations can scrutinize every aspect of one’s life. To see an example of what an investigation in child abuse/neglect involves, in the state of Virginia, refer to Figure 1.1.

FIGURE 1.1 Investigation Following A Child Abuse Allegation The following is a link to chapter one of a book titled Juvenile Services Child Abuse: Virginia Statutes and Case Lawit  details the investigation following a child abuse allegation. http://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/juvenile/resources/childAbuseStatutes/one.pdf (Shepard, 2003)

Crossing this delicate line can also prove to be detrimental to the well-being of the student(s) involved. These accusations could lead to job termination ("22.1-307. dismissal, etc,” 1950. As far as the Virginia state government is concerned, teachers are responsible for the welfare and safety for all of their students. Reporting child abuse is a great part of that responsibility. "The following persons who, in their professional or official capacity, have reason to suspect that a child is an abused or neglected child, shall report the matter immediately [...] any teacher or other person employed in a public or private school, kindergarten or nursery school [and] any person providing full-time or part-time child care for pay on a regularly planned basis" ("Virginia acts of," 1999). In fact according to Virginia State Code failure to report child abuse is punishable by a fine, "Any person required to file a report pursuant to this section who fails to do so within seventy-two hours of his first suspicion of child abuse or neglect shall be fined not more than $500 for the first failure and for any subsequent failures not less than $100 nor more than $1,000" ("Virginia acts of," 1999). If one suspects that child abuse is taking place, refer to Figure 1.2 to determine the criteria for child abuse and how to report it.

Figure 1.2 What is child abuse and how do I report it? According to the Virginia Department of Social Services, child abuse requires that:  "Alleged victim is under the age of 18 at the time of the report" "Alleged abuser is in a caretaking role" "Alleged abuse or neglect meets the definition of abuse or neglect as defined by the CPS laws, regulations and policy" "The Virginia Department of Social Services local agency has jurisdiction to respond to the report" To report any suspicions you have please call the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline to get in contact with Child Protective Services. The numbers are:  "In Virginia: (800) 552-7096" "Out-of-state: (804) 786-8536" "Hearing-impaired: (800) 828-1120" If you witness child abuse call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number. ("Child abuse and," 2006)

Because teachers are considered caretakers and protectors of their students it is important that they refrain from letting their relationship with their students become anything less than professional. Adhering to these guidelines created can aid educators in having close personal relationships with their students that are both beneficial to the education of the student and professional.

Keep Relationships On School Grounds

Relationships between the student and teacher should be kept on school grounds. Conferences before school, after school, and during open lunch hours should be enough time to address any academic or social issues that one’s student may be having. When a relationship leaves school grounds it becomes more personal and can be viewed as suspicious. Teachers should not ever be in a private setting with their students. Conferences at a home, a restaurant, or in a car alone are completely inappropriate.

Social Networking Sites

Social networking sites are increasing in popularity every day and younger users are signing up for accounts. Having a Facebook or MySpace page is a personal choice for educators. Furthermore, if one chooses to have an account on a social networking site that includes personal pictures and blogs, one should refrain from adding students as friends, as it may be perceived as inappropriate. Consider making pages like these as private as possible, especially if the pictures and comments include curse words, alcoholic beverages (or other drug paraphernalia), and religious or political views.

If one would like to utilize a social networking site that can enhance one’s professional relationship with their students, or one desires to incorporate blogging or assignments by using social networking sites into one’s curriculum, there are ways to ensure that one maintains their credibility and professionalism.

1. Inform The Administration

Informing the administration ensures that one is not breaking any school policies. Also, if the administration is made aware, then they will be able to support one if the parents of students have concerns.

2. Do Not Add Privacy Settings 
Make this site available to all students, all parents, all administration, and all other teachers. This prevents any anonymity and allows parents and administration to monitor the activities on the site.

Transparency

The most important guideline is to keep relationships between teachers and their students professional; one must be sure that the relationship is completely transparent. Absolutely nothing should be done without parental approval. Inform parents through syllabi, notes home, and parent-teacher conferences about any one-on-one time, such as student-teacher conferences and extra help sessions.

QUIZ

1. Imagine that one teaches elementary school. If one is leaving work one hour after one has dismissed their students and one notices one of one’s students sitting on the steps outside the school. What is an appropriate way for one to react?
A) Both B and C
B) The teacher should approach the student and offer to give them a ride home.
C) The teacher should act like they didn’t see the student. The teacher has to get home to let the dogs out anyway.

D) The teacher should approach the student and let them borrow their cell phone to contact their parents or guardians.
E) The teacher should approach the student. Take them to the administration office and contact their parents or guardians. Wait with the student until their parents arrive.

2. Student-teacher relationships can be
A) Beneficial, if done the right way
B) Detrimental
C) Stupid
D) Unnecessary

3. A teacher has a Facebook account that has pictures of them and their friends partying, and the teachers political views are visible, True or False: since the teacher teaches at an elementary school they dont have to add privacy settings to their page because their students won’t see it anyway.

4. If young students have close relationships with their teachers they are more likely to be
A) Be aggressive towards peers
B) Socially withdrawn
C) Score lower on standardized tests
D) Well adjusted

ANSWERS: 1: E, 2:A, 3: False 4: D

References

1. Birch, S.H., & Ladd, G.W. (1997). The Teacher-child relationship and children's early school adjustment. Journal of School Psycology , 35(1), 61-79.

2. Child abuse and neglect hotline. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.dss.virginia.gov/family/childabuse.html

3. Hamre, B.K., & Pianta, R.C. (2001). Early teacher-child relationships and the trajectory of children's school outcomes through eighth grade . Child Development, 72(2), 625-638.

4. 22.1-307. dismissal, etc, of teacher; grounds. . (1950). Retrieved from http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+coh+22.1-307+500403

5.Shepherd, R.E. (2003). Child abuse: virginia statues and case law (PDF), Retrieved from http://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/juvenile/resources/childAbuseStatutes

		The Excellent Content Barnstar
		You have great information that is very useful to teachers! Csand015 03:17, April 26, 2010 (UTC)

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		The WikiProject Barnstar
		Awesome article, informative but personal at the same time Amort006 00:06, April 26, 2010 (UTC)

		The Excellent Content Barnstar
		This article was well written and informative.  I loved the cartoon too!  Lwrig018 12:00, March 17, 2010 (UTC)

		The Excellent Content Barnstar
		This article was very interesting, I enjoyed reading it! Great job!Kpomp002 16:51, April 20, 2010 (UTC)

		The Excellent Content Barnstar
		Very informative without being boring, way to go!!! Acara006 19:36, April 23, 2010 (UTC)

		The WikiProject Barnstar
		I like that this article was informative but not over the top! It was very well written and I enjoyed reading it! Srbower 17:19, April 24, 2010 (UTC)

		The Citation Barnstar
		Your citations for this article when reviewed were correct. Your dedication to provide accuracy accounted for the success of this article.. Good Job Nrayn002 23:10, April 25, 2010 (UTC) Nrayn002 23:10, April 25, 2010 (UTC)