The past two school years have been extremely challenging – and even traumatic – for youth across the globe. In the spring of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the vast majority of students throughout the U.S. to switch to virtual learning. Many suffered academically without in-person contact with their teachers and emotionally without contact with their peers. In addition, the pandemic was a traumatic event for many students, especially if their loved ones became ill or died, or family members’ work was impacted by pandemic shutdowns.
The 2020-2021 school year brought uncertainty. Some students remained learning virtually, while others went to school in-person, part, or full-time. For those who attended school in person, quarantines often created dis-jointed and unpredictable learning experiences.
To help navigate this chaotic learning environment, a growing body of evidence demonstrates that students’ relationships with teachers, coaches and mentors are especially important. Multiple studies show that students’ relationships with teachers, are especially essential for academic success. This year, as many students restart in-person education, those relationships will be especially important.
A study published last year by the non-profit Search Institute, which aims to help youth be successful, surveyed middle and high school students to examine the importance of their relationships with teachers. More than 1,200 middle and high school students filled out questionnaires at the beginning and end of the school year. Researchers found that developmental relationships with teachers directly and significantly impacted students’ motivation and the school climate overall. In addition, students with stronger developmental relationships with teachers were more likely to have higher grade point averages.
An earlier study also examined how developmental relationships affect middle‐school students’ motivation, belonging and grade point average. For this study, researchers surveyed 534 students from diverse backgrounds; 46 percent of participants were not white and a third were eligible for free or reduced meals at school.
They found similar results: students with strong developmental relationships were more likely to feel motivated and a sense of belonging and had higher G.P.A.s compared to those who did not report having developmental relationships with teachers. They also found students from poorer families were less likely to have strong developmental relationships with teachers, and those relationships were more likely to decline through the school year.
So, developmental relationships are important for kids’ success. But what, exactly, is a developmental relationship? Researchers describe five important aspects of a developmental relationship: demonstrating to youth that they matter; pushing youth to improve and holding them accountable for their actions; offering advice and emotional support to navigate challenges; treating youth with respect; and providing youth with connections to help broaden their worlds.
It’s important to note that, in these studies, researchers did not simply look for teachers who demonstrated they cared for students and challenged them academically. In the strongest relationships teachers also offered students support through difficult times and help in achieving their goals, giving them opportunities to lead and participate in decision-making and exposing them to new ideas and experiences.
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