Students, teachers, parents, principals, and education researchers agree that the most effective teachers are those who have the ability to relate to, or connect with, students (McKnight, Graybeal, Yarbro, & Graybeal, 2016). Primary among the qualities that reflect this disposition are compassion, trust, patience, caring, and kindness. Indeed, each of the above groups view caring and supportive relationships with students as even more important than content knowledge and skills of teaching. Caring and supportive teacher–student relationships are associated with multiple positive student outcomes, including greater academic motivation, engagement, and achievement; greater executive functioning and self-control; and more positive emotional engagement, including students’ feelings of school belonging and overall well-being. At the same time, negative teacher–student relationships are linked to poorer outcomes. The association between teacher–student relationships and those outcomes is stronger for middle and high school students, (Emslander, et al., 2025). A warm and supportive teacher–student relationship is particularly valuable for students who exhibit social, emotional, and academic challenges (Wang et al., 2013).

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

George Bear, PhD, is a professor emeritus of school psychology at the University of Delaware. He has written or edited 12 books and over 100 journal articles and book chapters focusing primarily on children’s moral development, school discipline, and school climate. He is a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the National Association of School Psychologists. 

Angela Soltys, PhD, is a practicing school psychologist in the Red Clay School District of Delaware, with research interests in the areas of school climate, social and emotional competence, and classroom management and disciplinary techniques.

This NASP Laminated Guide is an updated version of a resource from Helping Handouts: Supporting Students at School and Home, an online digital publication featuring more than 80 handouts for educators and caregivers. To learn more about Helping Handouts, visit https://apps.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/book-store.aspx. 

ISBN: 978-0-932955-39-5

This 6-page, laminated quick-reference guide is must for any School Psychologist or educator. This guide includes information on:

• What to Consider When Selecting Interventions and Supports
• Recommendations
• Recommended Resources