Building Classroom Rapport

Importance of Rapport in the Classroom

• Human connections between teachers and students are crucial in the classroom.
• Good or bad, teachers and classmates have always had an impact on our lives.

Quotes from Rita Pierson

• Students do not learn from teachers they do not like.
• "Every child needs a champion."
• Every child deserves an adult who will never give up on them.

Building a Good Rapport with Students

• Essential elements include:
  • Empathy
  • Knowledge of students' interests and backgrounds
  • Showing interest in their lives
  • Creating activities related to their interests
  • Knowing and learning their names
  • Showing support
  • Celebrating small achievements instead of punishing mistakes

Effective Tips for Building Rapport

• Know your students' names
• Be humble and comfortable with making mistakes or not knowing
• Show a sense of humor
• Be aware of your body language and move close to the students
• Be consistent and respectful
• Foster active learning and interactions
• Be available for your students
• Use relatable examples, songs, and things they like
• Empower your students by saying "you can"
• Look for the good in your students, such as their strengths and talents
• Enjoy your classes and they will enjoy them as well
• Establish clear rules and set limits/boundaries

Neuroscience: The Study of the Nervous System

• Neuroscience is the study of the brain, development, functions, chemistry, pharmacology, and pathology of the nervous system.
• The nervous system controls everything we do, including breathing, thinking, and feeling.
• The nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and all the nerves of the body.
• The brain is the control center, and the spinal cord is the major highway to and from the brain.

The Brain: The Body's Most Complex Organ

• The human brain has approximately 100 billion neurons, all of which are in use.
• Each neuron communicates with many other neurons to form circuits and share information.
• Proper nervous system function involves coordinated action of neurons in many brain regions.
• The nervous system influences and is influenced by all other body systems, such as cardiovascular, endocrine, and immune systems.

Parts of the Brain

• Cerebrum: The largest part of the human brain, involved in intellectual functions such as memory, attention, awareness, thought, language, and consciousness.
• Cerebrum is divided into left and right hemispheres, connected by the corpus callosum.
• Each hemisphere subdivides into frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes.
• Left side of the brain is related to analysis, logic, math, language, while the right side is related to creativity, intuition, feelings, and arts.

Functions of the Lobes

• Frontal lobe: Executive functions, thinking, planning, organizing, and problem solving, emotions, and behavioral control, personality.
• Motor cortex: Movement.
• Sensory cortex: Sensations.
• Parietal lobe: Perception, making sense of the world, arithmetic, and spelling.
• Occipital lobe: Vision.
• Temporal lobe: Memory, understanding, and language.

Language and the Brain

• Broca's area: Involved in production of speech sound.
• Wernicke's area: Involved in understanding of speech.
• Motor cortex: Controls the movements of muscles.
• Arcuate fasciculus: Connects Wernicke's area to Broca's area.