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Essay / How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
“The academic goals of schools can only be achieved if teachers provide students with a socially and emotionally healthy classroom environment” (quoted in Brackett, Reyes, Rivers, Elbertson and Salovey, 2011, p. Making classrooms safe, healthy and conducive to learning is of utmost importance. One way for teachers to achieve these goals is to create positive relationships between students. teachers In the article “How to Win Friends and Influence Students,” Biga and Spott apply the methodologies from the book How to Win Friends and Influence People and transform them to fit the classroom context. Biga and Spott believe that making students feel important is a proactive task that teachers must adhere to. The authors suggest three techniques that will improve relationships between students and teachers: welcome messages, attracting their attention. attention (paying attention) and piles of conversations. A welcome message is a great way for teachers to introduce themselves to students and their parents before school. the year begins. A brief introductory email at the start of a school year sends the message that the teacher is approachable and open to communication. Emailing students and parents about class schedules, supplies, expectations, and curriculum is key to starting the year with positive relationships. In this way, “students feel like they “belong” and are “essential” to the course before the course even begins” (Biga, Spott, & Spott, 2013, p. 103). There are many websites today, such as Mailchimp and Smore, that make it easy for teachers to create stunning newsletters. These newsletters are a great way to keep students and parents “in the know.” Early correspondence is the first task in establishing positive relationships...... middle of article......11) comment that support classes are linked to greater motivation, interest , pleasure and student engagement (p.27). If followed, the goals listed by Biga and Spott allow the teacher to be proactive in the way classroom relationships are formed. Above all, teachers must remember to “put on love” (NIV, Colossian 3:14), for it is by putting on the love of Christ every day that can transform any classroom and penetrate any darkness. The classroom can quickly become a chaotic environment, however, by maintaining strong teacher-student relationships, respect and honor will always be present. By listening to students, making information relevant, and demonstrating genuine sincerity, teachers show students that they care not only about their educational plans, but also about them as individuals, as as future leaders and as an important person..