"A father gives a child an angry look and the child reckons, 'I've done something bad.' The father looks at the child with anger most of the time and the child reaches the conclusion, 'I am bad.'" – Dr. Shelja Sen
On the 22nd of February 2025, a transformative workshop titled “The Art of Connection” was conducted by Ms. Aashna Jain, School Counsellor, at RKKGPS. The session aimed to highlight the importance of building meaningful relationships between teachers and students to foster a supportive and encouraging learning environment.
The workshop commenced with an eye-opening activity where teachers role-played as students and educators, reading out common classroom scenarios. This engaging exercise shed light on the gap between teachers and students—the lack of awareness among teachers about students' backstories and, similarly, the students' limited understanding of their teachers' intentions.
Following this, the session explored the fundamental triggers that challenge teachers in maintaining composure when faced with difficult situations. By recognizing these triggers, teachers can work towards regulating their responses and fostering a more empathetic approach in their interactions.
A key focus of the workshop was on the impact of teacher communication on a student’s self-esteem and confidence. The manner in which a teacher speaks can either uplift or demoralize a student, making it imperative to use positive, encouraging, and respectful language in classrooms.
Ms. Aashna then introduced the powerful mantra—“Connect Before Correct.” To emphasize this, she shared insights from a survey conducted within the school, which examined the foundation of connection and its significance. The survey findings highlighted why students form stronger connections with certain teachers on social, emotional, and transformational levels, differing across age groups from middle to high school.
The session proceeded with a discussion on the most effective positive discipline strategies that teachers can implement through enhanced communication skills. These included:
? Practicing empathy and active listening
? Maintaining composure and using respectful language
? Publicly praising students while offering individual guidance in private
? Avoiding public humiliation
? Establishing and respecting healthy boundaries with students
The workshop concluded with an open discussion, where teachers shared their experiences, perspectives, and success stories. It was a moment of mutual agreement when Ms. Aashna stated, “When care is shown, connection prevails, and when connection prevails, positive change happens.” The workshop left a lasting impact on the participants, reinforcing the importance of connection in shaping a nurturing educational environment.
