Connecting with students even at a distance through the small things helps teachers maintain and build relationships

“These small daily experiences with our students forge a deep bond. We laugh with them. We hug them when they’re sad. We lose our tempers, make mistakes, and make amends. We yearn for quiet time alone, which is a scarce commodity in the confines of a classroom. There’s exhaustion. Renewal. The well-laid plans that go horribly, comically awry. Spontaneous moments of delight that we never could have planned.These moments accumulate, until being there for our students becomes as deeply ingrained in our days as a cup of coffee in the morning or watching Netflix at night. When our students are worried about a lost toy, a sick family member, or a frightening story they’ve seen on the news, we’re there to reassure them that they will be OK.” Read article