Starting the School Year Strong: Centering Relationships in the Classroom

 

Summer is winding down and the new school year is already upon us. While parents are busy dusting off backpacks and shuttling their kids through drop-off lines, educators at our partner schools are feverishly working to get their years started off well. Whether they are new teachers or seasoned veterans, the first days of instruction are a critical time for teachers to lay the foundations of a successful classroom before any sort of formal learning takes place. Research shows that when “young people maintain positive school-based relationships, their learning and well-being is supported and enhanced” (Hernández & Darling-Hammond, 2024). As teacher and Edutopia contributor Pernille Ripp shares, “building community is one of the most important things we can do in our classrooms. It’s vital that we plant the seeds of student-centered classrooms on the very first day, and that our actions during that first week of school will speak louder than anything else during the rest of the year” (Ripp, 2015). 

 

Acknowledge Alliance firmly believes in the transformative power of school connectedness and positive relationships. Through individualized check-ins, teacher and principal resilience groups, coaching, and skill-building, our staff work with educators to help them establish caring, trusted relationships with their students and build classrooms where students feel emotionally safe and supported. Read on for some helpful strategies for centering relationships in the classroom and share them with the educators in your life.

 

1. Establish Classroom Routines and Structures

Although learning rules and routines may sound mundane, “consistent and clear routines in classrooms create a sense of predictability and safety, reduce stress, and facilitate learning for all students” (CASEL, 2019). Some daily routines such as greeting students as they arrive to class or maintaining an open-door policy can even help to deepen relationships between students and teachers (Hernández & Darling-Hammond, 2024).

 

2. Create a Sense of Community

According to CASEL, “a student’s sense of belonging in their classroom community leads to a more positive connection with school as well as stronger self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation” (CASEL, 2019). Circle discussions are one method of allowing students to share feelings, thoughts and stories openly and honestly. Inspired by circle practices of Indigenous Nations across many cultures, participants sit in a circle and each person has an opportunity to respond to a question or prompt, one at a time and without interruptions (CASEL, 2019). Engaging in this practice regularly can help students feel like they belong and are learning in community.

 

3. Create Shared Value and Norms Together

Developing classroom norms collaboratively gives students a sense of ownership over mutually established group expectations (Hernández & Darling-Hammond, 2024). Ensure that all students are included in the process and feel comfortable with the agreed upon norms and goals. Display these prominently and make it a habit to revisit them frequently.

 

4. Use Student-Centered Discipline Practices

Rather than being punitive in nature or removing students from the learning environment, student-centered discipline practices allow teachers to respond to challenging behavior while being respectful of the student’s experience and responsive to their needs (CASEL, 2019). Specific student-centered practices include having discussions and providing students with opportunities to provide feedback, sharing strategies for monitoring and regulating behaviors and emotions, providing problem-solving tools, and teaching and modeling self-reflection (CASEL, 2019). 

 

5. Celebrate Students’ Full and Diverse Identities 

When each student feels that their teacher values their knowledge, life experiences and culture, students are better able to thrive in school. Teachers can create identity-affirming environments by choosing diverse content so students see themselves reflected in the curriculum (CASEL, 2019). Students can also be invited to share about their unique backgrounds and experiences. 

 

6. Foster Student Agency and Voice

Educators can help build students’ confidence and ability to manage their own learning by providing opportunities to develop their voice and agency. Student-led learning activities and offering students choice and flexibility are some great practices to help build these important skills (Hernández & Darling-Hammond, 2024).

 

7. Promote Physical and Emotional Well-Being

We can all benefit from self-care practices that help us be in the ideal physical and emotional state for learning. Breathing, movement and mindfulness exercises are all practices that can help students to manage stress and regulate their emotions (Hernández & Darling-Hammond, 2024).

 

8. Be Responsive and Provide Meaningful Feedback

Making students feel valued is key to creating a supportive, relationship-centered classroom. To show students that you truly value their perspectives, educators should ask students about their experiences and make changes based on their feedback. Being transparent and following through will further strengthen the partnership between students and teachers (CASEL, 2019).
 

 

References
 

Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning. (2019) A Supportive Classroom Environment. Retrieved from https://schoolguide.casel.org/focus-area-3/classroom/a-supportive-classroom-environment/

 

Hernández, L. E., & Darling-Hammond, L. (with Nielson, N.). (2024, November 21). Cultivating relationships in secondary classrooms: Practices that matter. Learning Policy Institute. Retrieved from https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/cultivating-relationships-secondary-classrooms-brief

 

Rimm-Kaufman, S. (2025, March 5). Improving students' relationships with teachers. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/education-career/k12/relationships

 

Ripp, Pernille. (2015, August 26). The Student-Centered Classroom: Communicating What Matters. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/student-centered-classroom-communicating-matters-pernille-ripp