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Time

2 minutes, repeated multiple times

Level

Primary / Junior / Intermediate

Material

N/A

Purpose

To help build rapport and a relationship between teacher and student, and to let the student see they are genuinely cared about as a person

  • The 2×10 strategy requires you to spend two minutes per day for 10 days talking with a student about anything they would like to talk about.

NOTE: The caring adult who will take ownership of the 2×10 strategy with a student would ideally be an individual who is different from the student’s homeroom teacher. This will help to broaden the number of adults that the student is connected to within the school.

  • At the beginning of the school year, it might be useful for school staff to proactively flag students who may be at risk for attendance issues. The purpose is to proactively engage with these students. Adopting the 2×10 strategy with these youth helps to prevent truancy.

Teacher-student relationships have a significant impact on a student’s academic engagement and achievement. Students who experienced negative teacher-student relationships were more significantly impacted by the negative outcomes than students who had positive relationships. At-risk students (SES, special needs, new students, etc.) were significantly more at risk of experiencing a negative student-teacher relationship, which indicates the immense value and benefit for both teacher and student of developing relationships together (Roorda, et. al., 2011).

Roorda, D. L., Koomen, H. M., Spilt, J. L., & Oort, F. J. (2011). The influence of affective teacher–student relationships on students’ school engagement and achievement: A meta-analytic approach. Review of educational research, 81(4), 493-529.

Intentional time with others helps to support us socially, emotionally and spiritually. Catholic social teachings call upon us to be fully present, in the presence of others; to feel a sense of belonging, to support, to listen and to understand.

(2a) An effective communicator who listens actively and critically to understand and learn in light of gospel values.

Belonging and contributing: to develop a sense of connectedness to others