Positive Culture: Student Perspective

Though it is important to examine the perceptions of teachers when building school culture, it is much more important to delve into the perception of the student. Though this area is vital to building authentic quality relationships, there is limited information available. According to research, it has been well established that high-quality teacher-student relationships lead to higher student achievement through several avenues such as, greater engagement in work and better work habits. Additionally, students tend to like school more. 

Relationships matter at all levels from pre-school to college. In one study, middle school students were surveyed to assess their perception of how their success was influenced by the relationship with the teacher during their participation in a certain program. The students that had a positive relationship with the teacher felt it was a contributing factor to their success. Furthermore, the stronger the student perceived connection to the teacher was, the more they sensed their level of success was influenced by the relationship. Though different definitions of the teacher-student connection or relationship have been presented throughout years of study, the research is consistent with the finding that there is an association between positive student outcomes and the positive aspects of relationships. 

In an urban middle school study, the research uncovered evidence that perceived teacher caring and support are important elements of the teacher-student relationship and are contributing factors to engagement, which in turn can lead to higher student achievement. Perceived caring and support from the student perspective is positively associated with emotional support and that support leads to better student achievement.

The bottom line is that the students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. Until next time...