On-Your-Feet Guide to Building Authentic Student-Teacher Relationships

All On-Your-Feet Guide orders receive FREE SHIPPING! Use code SHIPOYFG at check out.

 

This On-Your-Feet Guide provides tested strategies for building authentic relationships with your students. These authentic relationships between students and adults ensure that students know that they are valued, respected, and trusted.  Authentic relationships help students grow as individuals and they help educators grow as professionals. And, there is evidence that student-teacher relationships work to improve learning with an effect size of .52, above Hattie’s average effect of .40.    

An authentic relationship requires, time, effort, trust, and love. When this bond is built, it is hard for anything to eliminate that. Our goal in this guide is to help you:

• understand the importance of relationships
• identify ways to create productive relationships with students
• identify ways maintain productive relationships with students

On-Your-Feet Guides (OYFGs) provide you with the ultimate "cheat sheet" to implement effective change in your classroom while in the moment of teaching. Designed for accessibility, and providing step-by-step guidance, the OYFGs are written by experts who take research-based practices and make them doable for the busy teacher. 

Each On-Your-Feet Guide is laminated, 8.5"x11" tri-fold (6 pages), and 3-hole punched.

Use the On-Your-Feet Guides
• When you know the "what" but need help with the "how"
• As a quick reference to support a practice you learned in a PD workshop or book
• To learn how to implement foundational practices
• When you want to help your students learn a specific strategy, routine, or approach, but aren’t sure how to do it yourself

 

Dr. Dominique Smith is an award-winning educator, author, and school leader who has dedicated two decades to transforming schools into inclusive, safe, and empowering spaces for students and educators alike. He currently serves as Principal at Health Sciences High and Middle College in San Diego, California. Dr. Smith earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from San Diego State University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California. His dual expertise in education and social work uniquely positions him to bridge the gap between academic success, emotional safety, and equitable school culture. A passionate advocate for belonging, restorative practices, and leadership development, Dr. Smith has co-authored several influential books, including Belonging in School: Creating a Place Where Kids Want to Learn and Teachers Want to Stay, Better Than Carrots or Sticks: Restorative Practices for Positive Classroom Management, Building Equity: Policies and Practices to Empower All Learners, Leader Credibility, How Leadership Works: A Playbook for Instructional Leaders, and The Restorative Practices Playbook. In recognition of his commitment to fostering safe and supportive school environments, Dr. Smith received the National School Safety Award from the School Safety Advocacy Council. His TED Talk on building authentic relationships between students and teachers has inspired educators across the country to reimagine connection as the cornerstone of effective teaching and learning. Through his leadership, writing, and speaking, Dr. Smith continues to champion the belief that when students feel seen, heard, and valued, they are empowered to thrive — both academically and personally. His work challenges schools to move beyond compliance and discipline toward cultures of belonging, accountability, and restorative growth.   Douglas Fisher is professor and chair of educational leadership at San Diego State University and a teacher leader at Health Sciences High and Middle College. Previously, Doug was an early intervention teacher and elementary school educator. He is a credentialed English teacher and administrator in California. In 2022, he was inducted into the Reading Hall of Fame by the Literacy Research Association. He has published numerous articles on reading and literacy, leadership, and curriculum design, as well as books such as The Teacher Clarity Playbook (2nd ed.), Your Introduction to PLC+, The Illustrated Guide to Teacher Credibility, Instructional Strategies to Move Learning Forward: 50+ Tools That Support Gradual Release of Responsibility, and Welcome to Teaching! Nancy Frey is a professor in educational leadership at San Diego State University and a teacher leader at Health Sciences High and Middle College. She is a credentialed special educator, reading specialist, and administrator in California. She is a member of the International Literacy Association’s Literacy Research Panel. Her published titles include 50 Strategies for Activating Your PLC+, The Illustrated Guide to Visible Learning, Welcome to Teaching Multilingual Learners, Teaching Foundational Skills to Adolescent Readers, and RIGOR Unveiled: A Video-Enhanced Flipbook to Promote Teacher Expertise in Relationship Building, Instruction, Goals, Organization, and Relevance.