What is one effective strategy for building rapport with students?

Active listening is a critical strategy for building rapport with students because it involves fully engaging with what the student is saying, both verbally and non-verbally. By actively listening, a social worker or teacher demonstrates that they value the student's thoughts and feelings, which fosters a trusting relationship. This approach helps the adult to understand the unique needs, concerns, and interests of each student, allowing for more personalized support.

The other strategies, while they each have their merits, do not effectively contribute to rapport-building in the same way. Providing students with the curriculum may be necessary for academic purposes, but it does not create a personal connection. Allowing students to make all classroom decisions can lead to confusion and a lack of direction, potentially undermining the authority and structure that help foster a supportive learning environment. Offering rewards for participation can motivate students but may not lead to genuine relationships; it can create an expectation of extrinsic rewards rather than fostering intrinsic motivation and connection. Active listening, on the other hand, establishes a strong foundation for trust and communication between the social worker or teacher and the student.