Chapter 4: “The single most important thing a teacher can do to create a motivational climate is to build a relationship with each student.”
It sounds simple, but it’s something that’s easy to overlook, especially in a subject like math where we’re often focused on covering the material and keeping up with the pacing guide. In our Math 7 classroom, I’ve noticed that students are more likely to try, speak up, or even just stay focused when they feel like their teacher sees and respects them. That doesn’t mean we have to be best friends with every student, but it does mean making an effort asking how their day is going, noticing when they’ve improved, or just saying “I’m glad you’re here.” These small moments can build trust.
I’ve seen students who normally shut down start to participate just because I made a point of checking in with them or giving them a little encouragement. It doesn’t fix everything overnight, but it creates a classroom where students feel safe enough to try and that’s huge, especially in math, where fear of being wrong can hold so many kids back. This line reminded me that relationships aren’t just helpful they’re the foundation.
It sounds simple, but it’s something that’s easy to overlook, especially in a subject like math where we’re often focused on covering the material and keeping up with the pacing guide. In our Math 7 classroom, I’ve noticed that students are more likely to try, speak up, or even just stay focused when they feel like their teacher sees and respects them. That doesn’t mean we have to be best friends with every student, but it does mean making an effort asking how their day is going, noticing when they’ve improved, or just saying “I’m glad you’re here.” These small moments can build trust.
I’ve seen students who normally shut down start to participate just because I made a point of checking in with them or giving them a little encouragement. It doesn’t fix everything overnight, but it creates a classroom where students feel safe enough to try and that’s huge, especially in math, where fear of being wrong can hold so many kids back. This line reminded me that relationships aren’t just helpful they’re the foundation.