Building Bridges

Research shows that discipline problems are prevalent in public schools and continue to be one of the greatest challenges in education. In Building Bridges, author Dr. Don Parker shows educators how to address this issue head-on. He shares an array of evidence-based strategies to build student-teacher relationships and create a welcoming learning environment that fosters student engagement, motivation, and achievement.Support students at risk by creating a positive school culture and building trust:Consider the student behaviors, characteristics, and experiences that are typically barriers to success in school.Learn how and why punitive punishments and zero-tolerance policies have failed to curb poor behavior in schools.Understand the importance of student-teacher relationships and the ways in which trust and positive relationships improve student behavior.Develop your ability to build positive student-teacher relationships through educational techniques, classroom management strategies, and teaching methods.Study the research that supports the many academic and social benefits of student-teacher relationships.Examine the ways in which school culture and climate affect the behavior of students and classroom engagement.Contents:ForewordIntroductionChapter 1: Develop the MindsetChapter 2: Show That You CareChapter 3: Establish a Culture for LearningChapter 4: Don't Take Bad Behavior PersonallyChapter 5: Create an Effective Classroom Management PlanChapter 6: Connect Through ContentChapter 7: Use the Back DoorChapter 8: Take an Ecological ApproachChapter 9: Develop EmpathyChapter 10: Teach Life Skills and Give Students HopeChapter 11: Build Students' Self-EsteemChapter 12: Get to the Root of the ProblemChapter 13: Communicate With Your HeartChapter 14: Open UpChapter 15: Seal the Bond and Provide Effective FeedbackEpilogueReferences and ResourcesIndex