Imagine the positive ripple effect of strong, supportive family and student-teacher relationships in education. When students feel trusted and understood, they are more likely to engage with learning. When teachers and families work together as a team, student success is amplified. This blog post celebrates the transformative power of connection and explores how relational teaching can create a more positive and impactful learning experience for everyone involved. Discover resources to help you build stronger bonds, foster collaboration, and navigate the complexities of today’s educational landscape.
The Trusted Teacher: A Reflective
Guide for Impactful Relationships With Secondary Students
By Erica Battle
“In an era where academic performance often takes precedence, Battle reminds us that the heart of teaching lies in the connections we build with our students. It is a must-read for anyone seeking to create a positive, supportive, and effective learning community.”
— Tina H. Boogren, author and education expert
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Building Bonds With Learners: The
Teacher-Student Relationship Model
“The teacher-student relationship model provides a practical approach to making lasting impressions, empathizing, building communication, nurturing connections, and supporting diverse learners. I highly recommend this for reflective educators and book studies in schools.”
— Jorge Valenzuela, educational coach, Lifelong Learning Defined
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Power Engage: Seven Power Moves for Building
Strong Relationships to Increase Engagement
With Students and Parents
Foreword by Anthony Muhammad
“Coach Carlos’s Power Engage earned a spot on my shelf, focusing on performance-based relationships. The book delivers a potent combination of research, road map, and real talk, resulting in a practical and accessible resource.”
— Ken Williams, author of Ruthless Equity: Disrupt the Status Quo and Ensure Learning for ALL Students
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On the Same Team: Bringing Educators and Underrepresented Families Together 
“. . . On the Same Team walks readers through a step-by-step guide to implementing Families & Educators Together (FET) teams. Readers have the opportunity to learn not only from other schools’ successes, but also their missteps, as the book highlights common obstacles and how to overcome them.”
— Rebecca Bauer, family & community engagement consultant, Rebecca Bauer Consulting
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Webinar: On The Same Team
In this webinar, we’ll explore the crucial difference between family involvement and building authentic partnerships. Education expert Ari Gerzon-Kessler will introduce the Families and Educators Together framework from his book On The Same Team, offering insights into the strategies, research, and practical applications that bring this approach to life.
Building Bridges: Engaging Students
at Risk Through the Power of Relationships 
By Don Parker
Foreword by Robert Jackson
“I love the format of Don Parker’s amazing book, Building Bridges. I am inspired by his own life story and his ability to draw the reader into the content. Parker’s research, self-reflection, and practical strategies to help build significant and effective relationships will provide powerful outcomes for readers and the students they serve. This book is a must-read for all professions working to make a difference in young people’s lives.”
— Jim Sporleder, national trainer, Trauma-Informed Schools
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Watch the Book Study
Riding the Wave: Teacher Strategies
for Navigating Change and Strengthening
Key Relationships 
Deftly navigate the constant cycles of change and truly thrive in the classroom with the support of this actionable resource. Build strong teacher-student relationships with classroom management strategies and empowering leadership.
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Embracing Relational Teaching: How Strong
Relationships Promote Student Self-Regulation
and Efficacy 
“Embracing Relational Teaching is full of thoughtful templates, tools, and strategies for placing relationships front and center in daily planning, teaching, and assessment practices. More importantly, this book offers powerful insight into why relational teaching matters to both teachers and learners, and why this approach truly honors the critical teacher-student relationship. Be ready for examples, ideas, and approaches that will shift how teaching and learning is experienced by the people it impacts the most.”
— Katie White, educational presenter, educator, and author
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