Chapter 6: Organizing Relationships for Learning

The research concludes that the most influential part of education is the adult/teacher relationships between students. This information has led to the restructuring of middle schools into teams of teachers that all interact with the same 125 students. Smaller teams allow a group of teachers to concentrate more fully on the needs of the students and collaborate with each other to help ensure success. Planning periods for teachers are also a much needed aspect of this team teaching. Teams that have figured the process out, which can take time and practice, are characterized by planning, teamwork focused on a common goal, reevaluation and reflection of progress, and advising students.

I definitely understand the need for adult and student relationships and guidance. I am not sure how that would work effectively in a school that assigned teacher advisers to the students. The most meaningful teacher relationships I had came about naturally because I connected with those teachers. I do not think that if I had been assigned a teacher to talk to I would have either been open to it or felt comfortable because I would have felt like it was forced. I am not sure how to have a system of advising that offers the same benefit to students but have it be and feel natural. Some people just do not have anything in common and as far as pairing students and teachers it sounds like an administrative nightmare. In theory the idea sounds good; I just am not sure how it would be in practice