It seems that with each passing day, the uncertainty of Fall re-entry plans creates an increasing amount of anxiety in us all . Whether we are parents or educators, we are all trying to grapple with the same impossible question; Will it be safe for children and staff to return to school in September? Unfortunately, we will likely not know the answer to that question until our children have already been in classes for close to a month. However, whether in-person or virtual, the teacher/student relationship will remain one of the primary indicators of student success.
In the majority of circumstances, students entering school in the Fall will be starting in a brand new “classroom” with a brand new teacher. Those first days of school can be challenging as children transition into these new environments. This year, those same “first day” challenges are likely to feel even more daunting as so much is unknown. This is why in those first few weeks of re-entry, relationship building will be critical. In other words, building a rapport with new and old students, establishing trust with each individual student and the community as a whole, and creating a container of safety within the “classroom” will be the scaffolding for creating an environment where students are capable of being vulnerable and courageous learners.
In this article, The First Six Weeks: Building Trust, Zaretta Hammond has included several strategies and resources for creating connection with students. While we are busy preparing to take every health precaution for the well-being of our children, let’s consider taking similar emotional precautions as well to ensure that all children come through this pandemic with a deeper sense of resiliency.
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