Relational Success Questionnaire
The teacher-student relationship makes a real difference to students’ motivation, engagement, and achievement (Martin, 2010; Davis, 2013). This is especially important for boys, with a positive relationship in the classroom preceding effort and mastery (Reichert & Hawley, 2013).
Teachers lay the foundation for relational success with boys when they…
Establish clear behavioural and scholastic expectations as well as a realistic assurance that students will, with their help, meet those expectations;
demonstrate their own mastery of the subject under which they carefully prepare compelling lessons and assessments;
create a classroom atmosphere where students perceive to be fair and emotionally safe and in which the full range of boys’ develop
There is no one single type of effective teacher for boys (Reichert & Hawley, 2013). Individual boys gravitate to individual teacher personalities and learning styles. However, our focus needs to be on forging effective learning alliances with all our students which, in turn, can significantly improve their motivation, engagement and achievement.
“At its core, brain research confirms the interdependence of cognition and emotion in the brain. Our ability to absorb information in the thinking areas of the brain depends on our emotional health. Conversely, learning can be derailed emotional stress.” (Glasgow, R. & Kincaid, S. Brain Research, Diversity, and The Learning Environment, Independent School, 2014)
