Back-to-School: 5 steps to start the year strong

Back-to-school season is the perfect opportunity to build a vibrant school culture from the ground up. 

The foundation of a thriving school is built on strong relationships. When teachers take the time to form genuine connections with their students, they create an environment where students feel seen, heard, and truly belong. This sense of connection is the key to unlocking better engagement, improved attendance, and higher academic achievement.

According to a recent social media survey conducted by EdWeek, forming relationships is a priority for starting the school year strong. When teachers consistently build meaningful relationships with students, it fosters a sense of trust and belonging that lasts all year long. This sets a positive tone that leads to better behavior and deeper learning. 

Along helps teachers check in with students through simple, research-informed questions that fit into daily routines. Even one thoughtful question can make a meaningful difference, such as:

What is one way you like to be recognized when you’ve worked hard?

By consistently carving out time for these interactions, schools can shift from a transactional environment to a truly relational one. When students know their teachers care about their well-being and not just their grades, they’re more likely to take academic risks, ask for help, and be resilient in the face of challenges. 

This approach creates a powerful ripple effect throughout the entire community, transforming how students and staff interact daily. When trust is established early on, it paves the way for a more open and collaborative learning environment. 

5-Step Action Plan

To help school leaders implement this approach, Along offers a 5-Step Action Plan to Transform Your School into a Community:

• Set a vision to build school culture: Connect with staff around the power of teacher-student connections.
• Model a system for creating connection: Show your team the impact of a practical routine for building relationships.
• Implement a specific plan at your school: Introduce a manageable solution for relationship-building with clear actions and calendar planning.
• Create a space for student voice year-round: Encourage opportunities to engage around class-by-class student insights.
• Use student inputs for effective, inclusive classrooms: Adjust and inform teaching practice based on student responses.

Along helps staff reconnect with their “why” and feel supported in the moments that matter most. It’s about creating a safe, connected school where every student can thrive. 

Nicole Fisher, a school leader at Highview Sixth Grade Center in Middletown, Ohio, has seen the benefits of Along in helping transform the school’s culture.

“Along is a part of this shift at our school to build relationships every day, in each of our classrooms between teachers and students,” Fisher said. “Each year can feel very different on our campus, depending on the group of kids who are here, and this gives us a way to see how these relationships are going.”

This deliberate focus on building relationships also has a profound impact on teachers. It combats burnout by helping them feel more connected to their students and the purpose of their work. A classroom filled with trust and belonging is not only more productive but also more joyful. When teachers see the direct results of their efforts in their students’ well-being and success, it reignites their passion for education. 

By using a clear strategy to foster strong teacher-student connections, leaders can build a school culture where every student feels seen, heard, and ready to learn.