Katherine Taelman

Marygrove College
Capstone B ABT PRESENTATION
Positive relationships have a positive effect on achievement
(Rimm- Kaufman, 2013)

The teacher-student relationship showed even more important
with at risk populations, minorities and students of low socio
economic status (Hughes & Kwok, 2007. Larson, 2011).

Students who have positive relationships within school have
higher rates of motivation, take constructive feedback easier,
more adaptable and are more apt to take risks in their work.
(Hughes & Kwok, 2007. Larson, 2011)
Most teachers are building relationships, yet
many students will say,
They dont care about me
They dont know me

Hallway & Test Reward Examples


What if Im doing it wrong?
Does one size fit all?
What is the effect of an individualized
approach to building relationships on
achievement with middle school students?







The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
and Ross Campbell to individualize the
relationship building
Words of Affirmation
Quality Time
Act of Service
Gifts
Touch
Student Survey #1 (Pre/Post)
Student Survey #2 (Love Languages)
Student Records Matrix
Fall/Spring GPAs
Fall/Spring Attendance
Student Interview
Open ended questions
My teachers care about me. 1 2 3 4 5
1 = Strongly disagree 5 = Strongly agree
I try much harder in school when my
teachers care about me.
1 2 3 4 5
1 = Strongly disagree 5 = Strongly agree
My teachers know me personally
(interests, friends, hobbies, etc.)
1 2 3 4 5
1 = Strongly disagree 5 = Strongly agree
I am learning a lot from my teachers. 1 2 3 4 5
1 = Strongly disagree 5 = Strongly agree
My teachers are there to help me. 1 2 3 4 5
1 = Strongly disagree 5 = Strongly agree
I have a good relationship with my
teachers.
1 2 3 4 5
1 = Strongly disagree 5 = Strongly agree
I like school. 1 2 3 4 5
1 = Strongly disagree 5 = Strongly agree
I do my best and work hard at school. 1 2 3 4 5
1 = Strongly disagree 5 = Strongly agree
My parents/guardians care if I do well in
school.
1 2 3 4 5
1 = Strongly disagree 5 = Strongly agree
I would be able to tell that the teacher cares about me if:
Rate your Top 5 answers! ( 1 = top preference)

They gave me a pat on the back
They gave me a high five or fist bump
Gave me a hug
Told me they were proud of me
Told other my parents, teachers and classmates how well I was doing
Gave me valuable feedback to help me improve in an area of my life (school and outside of
school)
Came to an afterschool event (basketball, football game)
Ate lunch with me
Talked with me about things I like (sports, music, etc.)
Gave me something (candy, food, pencil, etc.)
They gave me a certificate
They paid for something I needed (lunch, snack, field trip, uniform)
They helped me with an assignment
They helped me with something (opening a locker, organize a folder, find something that is lost,
etc)
They taught me something important outside of their curriculum (applying for college, goal
setting, etc.)
Love Language Examples for in the
Classroom
For Punishment DO NOT
Words of Affirmation You did a great job on
the lab!
Im proud of you
Reprimand them with
words, name call
Quality Time Undivided time to talk,
active listening, lunch
with you
Waste their time, ignore
them
Acts of Service Study tips, open locker,
apply for college
Refuse help
Touch High five, pat on the
back
*physical punishment

Home- spank
Gifts Gave out: Pencil, shirt,
materials, lunch,
McDonalds Coupon
Hold gift ransom
Student
Fall Semester
Grades (PRE-
RESEARCH)
Fall Semester
Attendance
(PRE
RESEARCH)
*record # of
absences
Student
Survey #1
score
(PRE
RESEARCH)
Love Language
Preference
T-touch
Q- Quality time
G- gifts
W- words of
affirmation
A-Acts of
Service
# of times
preference
was given by
the teacher
during
research
Student
Survey #1
score
(POST
RESEARCH)
Spring
Semester
Grades (Post
Research)
Spring
Semester
Attendance
(Post Research)
*record # of
absences
Student Love Language
701 Words of Affirmation
702 Quality Time
703
Words of Affirmation

704 Words of Affirmation
705 Quality Time
706 Words of Affirmation
707 Words of Affirmation
708 Act of Service
709 Words of Affirmation
710 Act of Service
711 Word of Affirmation
801 Words of Affirmation
Most GPAs decreased
This was also true for
students not
participating in the
research
Student Fall GPA Spring GPA
701 1 0.75
702 0.75 0.25
703 4 4
704 3 3
705 1.75 0.5
706 1.75 2.5
707 2.5 2.5
708 2 2.25
709 2 0.5
710 2.75 1.5
711 2.75 0
801 2.5 2.25
17%
58%
25%
GPA changes: Fall & Spring
Increased Decreased Maintained
Of the eight
whose GPAs
decreased,
their loss was
less severe in
Class A where
they were given
their
individualized
relationship
building
Student # Fall Semester Grades (PRE-RESEARCH) Spring Semester Grades (Post
Research)

701
Class A 72%
Class B 61%
Class C 62%
Class D 57%
Class A 65%
Class B 72%
Class C 51%
Class D 20%

702
Class A 72%
Class B 65%
Class C 55%
Class D 46%
Class A 66%
Class B 23%
Class C 26%
Class D 27%

705
Class A 72%
Class B 82%
Class C 75%
Class D 53%
Class A 78%
Class B 56%
Class C 47%
Class D 25%

709
Class A 81%
Class B 61%
Class C 68%
Class D 89%
Class A 70%
Class B 50%
Class C 35%
Class D 28%

710
Class A 70%
Class B 93%
Class C 81%
Class D 70%
Class A 69%
Class B 77%
Class C 77%
Class D 62%

711
Class A 79%
Class B 92%
Class C 76%
Class D 88%
Class A 54%
Class B 32%
Class C 25%
Class D 23%

801
Class A 88%
Class B 86%
Class C 56%
Class D 96%
Class A 84%
Class B 73%
Class C 62%
Class D 86%
Student Survey #1
Please answer questions. 1= strongly disagree, 5 strongly agree
Pre Average Post Average change
1. My teachers care about me. 4.5 3.83 -0.67
1. I try much harder in school when my teachers
care about me.
4.16 3 -1.16
1. My teachers know me personally (interests, friends,
hobbies, etc.)
3.25 3.58 +0.23
1. I am learning a lot from my teachers. 4.5 4.16 -0.34
1. My teachers are there to help me. 4.25 4.08 -0.17
1. I have a good relationship with my teachers. 3.5 3.41 -0.09
1. I like school. 3.9 2.83 -1.07
1. I do my best and work hard at school. 4.25 4 -0.25
1. My parents/guardians care if I do well in school. 4.83 4.41 -0.42
Why do you think your grades changed so much?
Five students indicated the changes in one class has
been very challenging
Two indicated issues at home impacted them

How can you tell a teacher cares?
10 students encouragement and help from the
teacher
2 students reported that a teacher seemed angry if they asked
for help (one complained about the Ask Three Then Me)
Some teachers get to know a kid as an individual
person and communicate them as they as an individual
need.
Do you have a favorite teacher?
11/12 said yes

What are the qualities of your favorite
teacher?
Patient
Kind
Funny
Challenges me
builds up my self confidence
works with who I am
Number of participants was very small (12)
Only one teacher changed how they were
building relationships (big results would
require more to do it)
Participant achievement was not directly
compared to non participant achievement
Transition year (extra 300 hours)
Grade books were not the same
Relationships have a positive outcome for
students
Training for existing staff and new staff
Students value the positive relationship
The PBIS Program may be more effective if we
tailor it to the needs of the student
Currently: Mismatched reward and punishment
system