Make yourself available for private communication with your at-risk students. Announce office hours or times of the day when you are free for the students to stop by and discuss personal or academic matters. Let them know that you are available to them for more than just school matters. Appearing open and caring can help strengthen your relationship with at-risk students.
Maintain high expectations for your at-risk students. Teachers who believe in their students' success tend to reflect their attitude positively on their students and thus improve their academic success. Students generally respond favorably to teachers who support them and have better relationships with them.
Explore opportunities for social interaction with your at-risk students. Improve your relationships with students by getting involved with them in areas outside of academics. Take part in a basketball games or other activities that your students are interested in. Teachers who take an interest in their students' social activities tend to have stronger relationships with them.
Be an active listener. Listen attentively when your students speak to you about school or personal matters. Take their opinions into consideration during classroom discussions or in one-on-one interactions. Showing interest in their lives and opinions helps enhance your relationship with your students.
Maintain a calm and patient attitude with students. Teachers who rarely display anger or aggression toward their at-risk students tend to have better relationships with them.
Promote healthful relationships among the students themselves. Lead team-building activities and play ice breaker games and trust exercises with your at-risk students to help them get to know one another. Strengthening the bond between the students helps create a positive environment in the classroom.