It is particular important during these pandemic and post-pandemic years to understand that increasing numbers of our students have experienced or are experiencing stress, trauma, food and housing insecurities, isolation, and fears.  While educators are concerned about students' gaps in learning and deficits in content knowledge resulting from the disrupted school years, we must also be concerned about student insecurity, fear, and stressors.

​

Research demonstrates that when students have strong relationships with caring adults, their motivation to succeed academically and their engagement in academics are increased (The Search Institute, 2018).  They are more likely to persevere at difficult tasks, be better behaved in class, and will achieve at higher levels academically (Kaufman & Sandilos, 2015).

​

Some key features of relationship-building have been outlined in the Search Institute's Developmental Relationships Framework.  The five elements of relationship-building are outlined below:

​