Creating Connections with Students:

During CMP’s fall in service, our teachers spent some time together learning about different ways to connect with our students.

Connections between teachers and students are important because 

1. Connections build a sense of safety between teacher and child.
2. Connections allow a relationship/bond between teacher and child to develop.

Our CMP staff learned of 2 different ways to create individual connections with students.  In order to create positive connections, there are 4 components needed.

1. Presence- clear your mind and focus on each individual child.
2. Eye contact- use your eyes to “notice” and read the child’s message.
3. Playfulness- relax, have fun, be silly
4. Touch- use your hands to tap, tickle, touch (with child’s consent) to connect.

One of the ways we learned to connect is through the use of daily greetings and goodbyes.  Teachers were encouraged to come up with greetings/goodbyes that will draw children’s interests, allow for touch and non-touch and are fun/silly.  Some of the examples we came up with were:

High Five (touch)