Strategies to start a remote school year and building relationships right from the start? Yes!! Why not? They have never been so significant!

All over the world schools are about to open right in the middle of a world pandemic.

In Portugal we will open in September and students will start coming to school with new rules, new timetables, new playgrounds… their faces won’t be seen! Instead, we will be worried about maintaining social distancing, wearing masks and having our students following all the new rules… A new world awaits…

Meanwhile, we cannot forget relationships, feelings, everyone’s emotions, teachers’ included!

Most of our students have experienced at least some (a nice word!) kind of change in their lives: a death of a beloved one, a cut in the family budget, the loss of one or both parents’ jobs… and the list could go on and on!

Building Emotional Relationships Has Never Been So Meaningful!

Teachers can’t ignore that.

We can’t teach the way we used to. We have been affected too.

I’m not the same person as I was before. I want to teach my children English, however, I want to know who they have become, who they are now!

Firstly, I want to help when they need it.

Secondly, I want to predict what they need. I can teach by playing if they are sad. I can make them travel if they would like.

Finally, I can make them speak if they are in need.

And all of this because I’m teaching a foreign language!

But What Kind Of Strategies Are OK To Start A Probably Remote School Year?

Check all these resources that are available for you at englishbyjuanico.com/free-templates/


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13 Ways To Build Relationships When Starting A (Remote) School Year

1. Use different strategies to learn students’ names, interests, dreams, goals, etc (games are a good example) – check out the templates page with nice resources to start!

2. Make students’ return to school (even in remote teaching) a thing to celebrate. Make them feel safe, secure and above all welcome!

3. Always start by greeting each student by name every single day.

4. Say “Hello” to each and every student in your class.

5. Share your personal things such as goals and family details.

6. Always listen to your students since Day 1. They are children or teenagers and need to be listened to. If they are not right, explain why. Always.

7. Feel and show gratitude to learn with them every day. Teaching is all about that.

8. Try to use a sense of humour even in your worst days (we all know we have them).

9. Plan your first lessons carefully making students learn new things right from the beginning.

10. Engage your first lessons with lots of “Why?” questions so that students feel curious and ask you questions. Don’t tell them everything and wait for their questions. They will come!

11. Be ready to change the planned lesson every time you feel the need. Every class has its own pace. Give them time!

12. Use formative assessment right from the start. It shows students they can always get better by working hard.

13. Connect with parents whenever possible. Show them you care.

And Don’t Forget…

Positive relationships lead to strong connections.

Strong connections make you want to STAY, LEARN and DEVELOP. Isn’t that what we want from our students? Specially in a probably remote school year?

Be sure to read more about this topic!

I will give you a link to three great blog posts I’ve found about this – How to Build Relationships Virtually: The Ultimate Guide for Teachers, Building and Maintaining Strong Student Relationships Remotely and Building Student Relationships While Teaching Remotely.


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Don’t forget, building relationships right from the start will set and enforce high expectations and will make STUDENTS, TEACHERS and PARENTS connect with each other.