TQS Reflection #1

Sara Kohandel

Fostering Effective Relationships: A teacher builds positive and productive relationships with
students, parents/guardians, peers and others in the school and local community to support
student learning.
Achievement of this competency is demonstrated by indicators such as:
a) Acting consistently with fairness, respect and integrity;
b) Demonstrating empathy and genuine caring for others;
c) providing culturally appropriate and meaningful opportunities for students and for
parents/guardians, as partners in education, to support student learning;

Throughout my education degree, I have come to the conclusion that the foremost important
aspect of teaching is developing a meaningful relationship with your students. This idea has been
reiterated by every professor, administrator, peer, and teaching mentor I have worked with;
teaching is more than just a job—rather, it is a vocation that requires great care and compassion
in order to yield the most success. In my PSIII I have had the privilege of starting my internship
at the beginning of the year, rather than in the middle of the year as was the case with my
previous practicums. This early start has helped me develop relationships with my students much
faster than I would have otherwise (dropping in on a class three months into the year can make
students regard you as a bit of a stranger).
I like to spend the first 5-10 minutes of class talking to my students about their day, asking
what their evening was like, and seeing if they have any plans for the day to come. I feel so much
more connected to them—and able to transition to academic work—when I spend time getting to
know them as individuals. The students have completed a “Get to Know Me” worksheet in
which they shared information about their lives and their learning styles, an assignment titled
“How did the Pandemic Impact My Life” where they chronicled their time during the Covid-19
Pandemic, and a class brainstorm session on what defines their individual identity. In a short
time, I have come to learn a lot about my students: they are talented musicians and artists,
incredible athletes, and passionate about the world around them. Continuing to understand my
students and develop effective relationships with them will allow me to cater my lessons,
assignments, and assessments to best fit their needs and interests. My goal is to create a
classroom environment in which every student is treated with fairness, respect, and integrity—
not only by me, but by the rest of their peers as well. Every student should feel supported and
cared for, and that begins with a teacher that emphasis their relationship with students.
Developing one’s capacity in each of the TQS categories is a career-long endeavor. Although
I am making progress in fostering effective relationships with my students, I still have work to
do! There is always more that I can learn about my students and more ways to ensure that their
education is catered to their needs and interests.