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I think that relationship building is one of the most difficult things that I do as a teacher.  It can be very tedious but so necessary if I am to make any progress in the areas which the student needs the most help with.   Building that relationship helps me discover what  a student is willing to work for, establishes respect for each other, and helps me to read not only what they are saying but what they are not saying through their body language.
Q2-I continue to adjust my interactions with my students to help establish this relationship. I have to use this knowledge at times to help students navigate relationships with other teachers and with teachers to help them navigate positive and productive interactions and relationships with each other.

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Q1: I have learned that in order to build relationships with my students, I have to ask them questions, learn their interests, and find out what they enjoy. I have also learned over the years, as a sped teacher, that nonverbal actions/behaviors are just as important as what students say. This has helped me understand what makes them happy, sad, angry, confused, etc.
Q2: I learned to adjust my teaching and communication style to each student. Every student needs things communicated and explained in a different way. This has created more growth for me as a teacher but also I've seen growth from my students as well.

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-Relationship building is some of the hardest work I do as a teacher.  If I am not able to build some type of relationship with my student, I do not get very far with helping them in the areas they need help in the most. This process may be tedious to establish a true relationship but I feel that it will pay off in so many ways with having a mutual respect for each other and really finding out what that student is willing to work for.  In some cases, it is to get into a college of their choice and in other cases, it is really just making it through high school.

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Q1- I think just always being aware, and that things change constantly. One moment in class could make a day better or worse for anyone, so try to make it a positive experience. I've also learned that I need to work on not being reactionary to difficult situations. Sometimes it makes me flustered or I'm not really sure how to handle it, and I don't want to make any situations worse than they are. Everybody has good and bad days - that's just life, but playing into the good is much more beneficial than letting the bad rule.

Q2 - I have been told that I have an expressive face and that I give all kinds of looks in class in reaction to things students are doing/saying. I think that I really need to make sure I'm not sending negative messages or making students feel unwelcome or called out or anything like that. I always try to gather some info about each student at the beginning of the semester of likes/dislikes, etc. - just little things to get to know them a little bit, and I try to talk with them about it throughout the semester. Hopefully through this, they know I do care about them. I have had some in the past say that they thought I was mean or annoyed based on my expressions until they got to know me.

Shratter

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I've learned that my behavior can impact kids every day just as much as theirs does mine. Extending grace and patience goes a long way.

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I've learned that relationship building begins on day 1, sometimes even before. It's hard work, and takes effort on everyone's behalf. But, the outcome is worth the effort. Worth the pain! Never give up on student relationship building, no matter how much they may push back.

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I've learned that I have to reflect on how I respond. My body language says a lot to the students even if I don't say anything. I have to reflect on my own preconceived notions about kids (because I'm human) and I have to not allow those to interfere with how I deal with my students.

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We have to be able to understand our kids and meet them where they are at emotionally. It's also crucial to begin each day with a fresh start and know that a student's actions aren't always connected to you or something you've said or done. Each student carries baggage that we'll never know about.

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Q1: You have to treat your students like people. They have their own sets of problems, and thoughts. Respect them, hear them, let them voice their opinion, and the odds of building a good relationship is high.
Q2: Students are way more perceptive than I thought. My tone is a big deal when I say things. I pay much more attention to my tone, I think its all about tone!
Breland

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Over the course of this experience, I have learned that I build relationships with my students everyday- ones that are good and ones that are not so good. By being in the room with the kids day in and day out, they get to know a little about me, and I get to know a little about them. Relationships form, and most of them are completely unintentional. My take away from this experience is that you cultivate relationships that are beneficial for both you as the teacher and your kids as the students through active strategies, and not just background noise. You have to be intentional about them. You have to form the relationships you want and not just wait for them to happen to you, because they will if you aren't actively involved in the way they develop. I feel like relationship-building is and should be an ever-evolving portion of my professional skill set. As new generations and personalities of kids move through my classroom- since I'm the old teacher lady who's set in my ways and all these kids are the ones bringing in differences to my classroom culture- the ways I connect with them have to change too. Thank you for providing so much to ruminate on!

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For me, this all came together nicely in the most recent session. I enjoyed when we discussed outside influences creeping into the "school lives" of our students and encouraged viewing the students as "human kids" with individual experiences and traumas informing their engagement with the material presented in our classes. I have had lots of kids over the years- that I felt I had a good rapport with- just lose it some days, and that's when I think we can really reinforce and lean on those relationship supports. All the strategies we discussed are great, and I think the context of a real student with real personal issues is where relationships are most needed and most impactful.

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Q2 - I have learned to be more in-tune to myself/words/actions as I seek to build relationships with students.

For example, on lab days in Chemistry II, the learning can be "messy" - questions, mistakes, etc. It's a lot "messier" than just doing a worksheet, but the hands-on learning experience is so much richer for the students. :) However, this constant bouncing back and forth between groups - answering questions, troubleshooting equipment, helping with safety, etc. can sometimes leave me a little frazzled and not responding to questions as patiently as I would like. :) I've learned to pray for extra patience before these class periods and also to have some calm instrumental jazz music playing in the background (hence the attached spotify playlist :). It helps promote calmness for both me and the kiddos. :) Plus, when I respond patiently to their questions, they are more likely to keep asking them. :)

This is just one small example of how I've been challenged to reflect on myself and my tendencies as a teacher to help me do/change certain things that help relationships flourish.

Emily Harris

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Q1 - I have learned that no one ever "arrives" when it comes to building relationships. There is always something to learn, always a way to improve connections, to be more compassionate, to be more in-tune. It takes daily work, but it is so worthwhile. I am thankful for the reminders, encouragement, insight, and specific strategies that this PD strand has provided to equip us for continuing this journey. :)

Emily Harris

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Q2- I have learned that all our students are different and I have to reach them all differently. They all have a different background and a different response, but I always strive to respond professionally with the intent to further develop relationships.

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Q1- It's so important to develop relationships with our students. Relationships are the foundation to developing trust in our classroom settings. I always discuss character, competence, and connections with our staff. Character is the kids seeing you do the things you say you will do. Competence is them seeing and knowing you can help them because you know your stuff. and connection is taking an interest in their lives and they recognize this.

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Q2- Basic things I've learned that I should already know is that my face reveals all of my feelings and emotions and that my kids can pick up on that "vibe." And though I can't always control it, I am learning the triggers and how to monitor. Again, work in progress!

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Q1-
If a student comes to class angry or upset, the majority of time it isn't about me or the class. It has to do with the night or day or week(s) before. The best I can to do is say "I'm so glad you are here," and give them structure for the day. I am a work in progress on this, as I internalize everything and question more.

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It's important to be aware of biases. For example, the aggressive student is the student I have the hardest time connecting too. But now that I know my communication style, I can start to explore my aggressive students' communication style and use that to better understand and connect to those students :). It's also important to know that there are other factors outside the classroom that can affect how a student is able to communicate that day (i.e., not getting enough sleep, parents fought last night, etc, etc.) I am learning not to take things too personally when a student "takes it out" on me.

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I have learned that not all students learn the same way. We need to get to know our students and figure out which strategies help them the most. With the appropriate planning and a more strategic approach this will help these kids who sometimes are struggling.

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There are so many outside factors that affects students everyday learning. We, as teachers, need to take this into account and learn how to get through to these students who are struggling

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I've learned that while striving to build relationships with students, it is very easy to allow some to fall through the cracks due to their social and or emotional status.  With this in mind, a more strategic approach and purposeful planning will allow me to improve these relationships with all students.

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In our profession, we must build relationships with our students.  This allows us to see where they come from and better understand learning styles, behaviors, and other factors that may interfere with their academic progress.

These relationships demonstrate that we are human beings first and then educators.  Our students are able to build trust and confidence once we establish these strong bonds with them.

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Q1: Kids need someone to be a constant light in their lives, especially on the days when things are going their way.

Q2: I've learned that people communicated differently, and I need to be aware of how to best reach them. I also need to be careful not to communicate something I didn't intent.

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Q1: I've learned that I can build better relationships with students by understanding their behavior/communication as it relates to my own.  I've learned how to better engage reluctant learners by asking the right kind of questions and probing to get a more engaging response.

Q2: I've learned that I can adjust my communication style to reach different kinds of students - but I have to do it consciously. I need to set aside time early in each semester to evaluate my engagement effectiveness.

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I will always try the best I can, but I will still make mistakes. 

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Get to know students. Don't just focus on assessment data, but really get to know who they are and their background of how they became who they are. 

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Students are almost all introverted when they're sitting in their classes, and I'm introverted when I'm not at work.  I ask them to be extroverted, but it's hypocritical.  I've learned that I need to adjust my expectations of their level of interest and of their motives for their behaviors every day.

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Just like with any relationship, relationship building in the classroom requires constant awareness, adjusting, and communicating. It's not a new idea, but it's one that I'm beginning to accept and be better at doing. It gets tiring always being aware/alert, but it's a lot more helpful in the long run.

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Q2 - It is essential to be the rock with a firm foundation in an ever changing tide. The students depend on consistency and the development of positive relationships allow for this to occur.

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Q1 - It is essential to put relationships first in this profession. This is a very difficult task for most as we have our own expectations and plans to cover the material required but if we do intertwin material while building relationships this will make for a much better experience for all involved typically.

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Individually, I should work to always improve my ability to relate with the students in my charge.

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Humans were created to live in relationship with each other, not a social media app. Relationships come in many forms: family, marriage, friend, teacher/student, and hierarchical. Relationships have purpose, whether the purpose is stated or not. It is better to state purposes of relationships.

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Q1 - So many students are dealing with external factors (outside the classroom) that can and will affect their willingness and ability to fully engage in the lesson/goal/etc. Emotions run high and are easily triggered by things we as adults would more readily dismiss.
Q2 - There is always room to grow in being more understanding of a student's emotional reaction. It might seem insignificant given the "grand scheme of things" to an adult, but at the time it's very real to the student.

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Q1 - I have learned that relationships are more important than rigor, you can't get to the rigor until you have  a relationship

~Pamela P

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Interpersonal relationships make up a huge and vital part of your life. These relationships can range from close and intimate to distant and challenging. No matter the nature of the relationship, different types of relationships help make up the social support network that is pivotal for both your physical and mental well-being.

To better understand and discuss these relationships accurately, it can be helpful to learn more about the different types of relationships that a person can have.

What Is a Relationship?

Relationship

You can have a relationship with a wide range of people, including family and friends. The phrase "being in a relationship," while often linked with romantic relationships, can refer to various associations one person has with another.

To "be in a relationship" doesn't always mean there is physical intimacy, emotional attachment, and/or commitment involved. People engage in many different types of relationships that have unique characteristics.

Basic Types of Relationships

Relationships typically fall into one of several different categories (although these can sometimes overlap):

Family relationships

Friendships

Acquaintances

Romantic relationships

Sexual relationships

Work relationships

Situational relationships (sometimes called "situationships")

These different forms of relationships can vary greatly in terms of closeness, and there are also different subtypes of relationships within each of these basic types. Some of the different kinds of relationships that you might experience at some point in your life include the following.

Platonic Relationships

A platonic relationship is a type of friendship that involves a close, intimate bond without sex or romance. These relationships tend to be characterized by:

Platonic relationships can occur in a wide range of settings and can involve same-sex or opposite-sex friendships. You might form a platonic relationship with a classmate or co-worker, or you might make a connection with a person in another setting such as a club, athletic activity, or volunteer organization you are involved in.

This type of relationship can play an essential role in providing social support, which is essential for your health and well-being. Research suggests that platonic friendships can help reduce your risk for disease, lower your risk for depression or anxiety, and boost your immunity.

Romantic Relationships

Romantic relationships are those characterized by feelings of love and attraction for another person. While romantic love can vary, it often involves feelings of infatuation, intimacy, and commitment.

Experts have come up with a variety of different ways to describe how people experience and express love. For example, psychologist Robert Sternberg suggests three main components of love: passion, intimacy, and decision/commitment. Romantic love, he explains, is a combination of passion and intimacy.

Romantic relationships tend to change over time. At the start of a relationship, people typically experience stronger feelings of passion. During this initial infatuation period, the brain releases specific neurotransmitters ( dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin) that cause people to feel euphoric and "in love."

Over time, these feelings start to lessen in their intensity. As the relationship matures, people develop deeper levels of emotional intimacy and understanding.

Codependent Relationships

A codependent relationship is an imbalanced, dysfunctional type of relationship in which a partner has an emotional, physical, or mental reliance on the other person.

It is also common for both partners to be mutually co-dependent on each other. Both may take turns enacting the caretaker role, alternating between the caretaker and the receiver of care.

Characteristics of a codependent relationship include:

Acting as a giver while the other person acts as a taker

Going to great lengths to avoid conflict with the other person

Feeling like you have to ask permission to do things

Having to save or rescue the other person from their own actions

Doing things to make someone happy, even if they make you uncomfortable

Feeling like you don't know who you are in the relationship

Elevating the other person even if they've done nothing to earn your goodwill and admiration

Not all codependent relationships are the same, however. They can vary in terms of severity. Codependency can impact all different types of relationships including relationships between romantic partners, parents and children, friendship, other family members, and even coworkers.

Someone who feels more comfortable being needed, for instance, may avoid focusing on their own needs by choosing a partner who constantly needs them.

Casual Relationships

Casual relationships often involve dating relationships that may include sex without expectations of monogamy or commitment. However, experts suggest that the term is vague and can mean different things to different people.

According to the authors of one study published in the Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, casual relationships can encompass situations such as:

One-night stands

Booty calls

"Sex" buddies

Friends with benefits

Such relationships often exist on a continuum that varies in the levels of frequency of contact, type of contact, amount of personal disclosure, discussion of the relationship, and degree of friendship. The study found that people with more sexual experience were better able to identify the definitions of these labels compared to people with less sexual experience.

Casual relationships are often common among young adults. As long as casual relationships are marked by communication and consent, they can have several sex-positive benefits. They can satisfy the need for sex, intimacy, connection, and companionship without the emotional demand and energy commitment of a more serious relationship.

Open Relationships

An open relationship is a type of consensually non-monogamous relationship in which one or more partners have sex or relationships with other people. Both people agree to have sex with other people in an open relationship but may have certain conditions or limitations.

Open relationships can take place in any type of romantic relationship, whether casual, dating, or married.

There tends to be a stigma surrounding non-monogamous relationships. Still, research suggests that around 21% to 22% of adults will be involved in some type of open relationship at some point in their life.

The likelihood of engaging in an open relationship also depends on gender and sexual orientation. Men reported having higher numbers of open relationships compared to women; people who identify as gay, lesbian, and bisexual relative to those who identify as heterosexual were more likely to report previous engagement in open relationships.

Such relationships can have benefits, including increased sexual freedom and pitfalls such as jealousy and emotional pain. Open relationships are more successful when couples establish personal, emotional, and sexual boundaries and clearly communicate their feelings and needs with one another.

Toxic Relationships

A toxic relationship is any type of interpersonal relationship where your emotional, physical, or psychological well-being is undermined or threatened in some way. Such relationships often leave you feeling ashamed, humiliated, misunderstood, or unsupported.

Any type of relationship can be toxic including friendships, family relationships, romantic relationships, or workplace relationships.

Toxic relationships are characterized by:

Sometimes all people in a relationship play a role in creating this toxicity. For example, you may be contributing to toxicity if you are all consistently unkind, critical, insecure, and negative.

In other cases, one person in a relationship may behave in ways that create toxic feelings. This may be intentional, but in other cases, people may not fully understand how they are affecting other people. Because of their past experiences with relationships, often in their home growing up, they may not know any other way of acting and communicating.

This doesn't just create discontentment-toxic relationships can take a serious toll on your health. For example, according to one study, stress caused by negative relationships has a direct impact on cardiovascular health. Feeling isolated and misunderstood in a relationship can also lead to loneliness, which has been shown to have detrimental effects on both physical and mental health.

Defining Your Relationship

How you define your relationship depends on various factors, including what matters to you and how the other person feels. To define your relationship, it can be helpful to ask a few questions:

Do you have romantic feelings for one another?

What does each person hope to get out of the relationship?

How much time do you want to spend together?

Where do you see the relationship going?

Are you currently involved with or want to be involved with other people?

Figuring out what matters to you and your partner is an important step in defining the type of relationship you are interested in having. You might find that you are both on the same page or discover that you want different things out of your relationship.

Defining your relationship doesn't have to mean committing for the long-term. Instead, it can be a way to help you both better understand the boundaries and expectations of your relationship.

How to Keep Your Relationship Healthy

Regardless of how you define your relationship, there are important steps you can take to ensure that your connection is healthy. Strategies that can help include:

Showing appreciation and gratitude

Communicating openly and honestly

Being affectionate and showing that you care

Mutual respect

Actively listening

Showing interest in each other

Being supportive and encouraging

Feeling empathy for each other

Spending time together

Having healthy boundaries

Being trustworthy

Communication is often the single most important thing in a relationship. Good relationships are also marked by honesty, trust, and reciprocity. This doesn't mean that the relationship is purely transactional; it indicates that you naturally engage in a give and take that provides mutually beneficial support.

A Word From Verywell

No matter what type of relationship you have with another person(s), it is important for it to be a healthy one. Healthy relationships are characterized by trust, mutual respect, openness, honesty, and affection. Good communication is also a hallmark of a healthy relationship.

There are steps that you can take to improve your relationships with other people. Making sure you let others know you care and showing your appreciation are two strategies that can be helpful.

But if a relationship is causing stress or shows signs of being toxic, look for ways to establish clear boundaries, talk to a therapist, or even consider ending the relationship if it is too unhealthy.

Social relationships are important and they come in all different types. Having a variety of relationships with different people can ensure that you have the support and connections you need for your emotional health and well-being.

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6 Different Types of Relationships You May Find Yourself In

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Interpersonal relationships make up a huge and vital part of your life. These relationships can range from close and intimate to distant and challenging. No matter the nature of the relationship, different types of relationships help make up the social support network that is pivotal for both your physical and mental well-being.