Publish at July 17 2023 Updated July 18 2023
Social isolation is a common issue in modern schools and colleges. It can have a damaging effect on physical and emotional health. For example, up to 83% of students report that their mental health negatively affected their academic performance. In university, 2 out of 3 students say they struggle with loneliness and isolation. In response, many educational institutions are working to create a community and build links between teachers and students.
According to the CDC, connectedness in schools is essential for students' health and development. When colleges prioritize connecting with students, the result can impact how they learn to navigate the world. Also, the communities one builds in school can form a lifelong support network. But it requires much effort beyond putting a couple of students together in a room and expecting them to become friends. So how can schools and colleges help students build supportive links?
Children spend a significant amount of time in school. This means (outside their homes) schools and colleges are responsible for modeling a positive social environment. One way to do this is by encouraging them to take an interest in issues around them. Thankfully, most schools have programs and activities that cut across various interests. Some offer incentives like financial aid and grants or scholarships, which boosts participation.
Promoting a safe space for students to voice their opinions is essential for creating a positive connection with the school. For example, if there is a policy that students would like to provide feedback on, is there a channel designated for such purposes? Today, most schools leverage social networks to identify unique ways to engage their students.
Schools can also allow students to form clubs and organize after-school programs (with supervision). Another method would be encouraging them to engage in environmental or social activism. Motivating students to participate in community projects like raising donations of canned food or hygiene products for people experiencing homelessness creates opportunities that make connecting with students easy and natural. For those who are yet to gain college admission, such activities can give their applications more advantages.
There's a good reason why schools and colleges devote so much time and resources to building a support system for students. Making connections with students can have far-reaching consequences for everyone. How so? Take this article as an example. For you to be able to find it on Google, a website has to be doing SEO consistently, including link-building. It’s a challenging process that may require trying out many solutions on the market. You would need to leverage social media, use influencer marketing, and collaborate with self-improvement blogs that accept guest posts. Getting high-quality links is crucial for the future of any web page. And the same goes for the links students make when at college.
That’s why it is so important that schools help students build positive connections. According to reports from the American Psychology Association (APA), a good relationship between students and teachers can inspire academic growth. This helps contribute to a positive and more inclusive school environment. Connecting with students can be challenging. Yet, the result is a well-adjusted person who later becomes a good contributing member of the community.
There are several tips that can help students at school build links that contribute to their academic success and mental wellness. Some of these include:
Connections begin for students in the classroom. Teachers can key into this to help their students learn how to build links. Invite the students to help make the classroom a welcoming and inclusive place for everyone. Students who feel their teachers care about their welfare work hard to improve their academics. Group projects aid teamwork in class and can help students learn better while forming links with other group members. Such activities become engaging and interactive with a good teacher-student relationship.
In some cases, teachers can take the initiatives to organize excursions or tours for their students. This depends on their curriculum and requires permission from the school and parents. They might take the class on a local college or university tour. Another example is taking them to offices or workplaces. Such field trips help students form links or connections that shape their decisions about college applications and career choices.
But building community doesn't have to be limited to in-person interaction either. Technology has made it easier to build connections virtually. If the school does not have a website, the teacher can suggest or broach the idea to the school management. There are many resources like this site that make it easy for schools to create an edu website where students can build links in safe online spaces. The more safe spaces and options students have to come together, the better their chances to form friendships and network.
Schools and colleges should be taking active steps toward connecting with students. This will create a ripple effect that curbs disruptive behaviors and helps make the home, school, and community much better. They also get a social skillset and experience that encourages them become responsible citizens.
Illustration : Unsplash Brooke Cagle
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