Wait—we need to bond with our students? What is this, a human planet?

Yep.

Talk to them.

Yes, talk to them. And not just about math, science or P.E. Get personal.

Like, don't ask personal questions (as if we needed to tell you that), but find out what TV shows they like, what they do for fun, what makes 'em tick. Students want you to see them as human beings, and the only way to do that is to ask. You'll find that some of your kids are lonely people, and you can help. And you'll find that some of them have the exact same taste in rom-coms…and you can help them, too.

Show that you care.

Sometimes students turn in late work because stuff is going on at home. It might be something as minor as the kid feeling overwhelmed or as big as a parent getting arrested. However things shake out, you can increase your impact by listening and being flexible. Giving the benefit of the doubt (when reasonable) can go a long way to earning student respect.

Pull back on the sticks.

Sometimes we've just had it. But when we start over-punishing students, they unplug. Sometimes students get hopeless because they've dug their hole so deep and they can't see a way out. Then they need you to be their hero, so don your cape and help a kid out.

Say "Hi!" before class.

Every day. Every class. This basic greeting goes a long way to setting the tone of your class. Kids can feel the vibe you're throwing out, so make it a good one.

Avoid sarcasm.

Sarcasm cuts deep and it has the effect of really stinging (and zinging) kids. Though delightful and entertaining when properly placed, sarcasm can divide people and hurt feelings. Sure, sometimes older groups can handle a nice serving of snark, but making sure you know your audience and aren't coming across as making fun can help keep classroom management in check. Not sure where to draw the line? Read up on humor in the classroom.

Laugh with them.

No, not at them. Remember what we just said about sarcasm? Still, nothing brings us together like laughter. We laugh with our friends; we laugh with people we love. Laughter tends to build bonds and we can help dispel nervousness and stress with a little levity. And who doesn't love a good knee-slapper?

Use names.

When we use our students' names that means we (1) remember them and (2) care enough to put in the energy to remember them. They know it, and it sends the message that we care. They want you to remember them, so go that extra bit to do so. It'll pay dividends. If you're lucky, maybe they'll even remember your name, too.

So you get the gist—bonding with our students isn't just good for us; it's good for them, and good for the classroom vibe as a whole. When you build positive relationships, you're building a classroom environment where students feel comfortable enough to learn. And beyond just helping the kiddos learn and achieve (as if that's a "just"), it'll also help them to see themselves as part of a learning community.

And you built that.

Want to read more? Check out these two articles on forming positive student-teacher relationship and building relationships with students. There's always more building to be built.