Tier 1 · Universal
2×10 relationship building
Spend two minutes a day for ten days in a row talking with the student about anything except school.
How to do it
- Choose one student.
- For 10 school days in a row, spend about 2 minutes in friendly conversation about their interests, weekend, pets, games, or anything non-academic.
- Do it at a low-pressure time: arrival, corridors, lunch, break time.
- Listen more than you talk, and remember details to follow up on.
- Log each conversation briefly and note any change in the student’s behaviour.
Why it works
- Students work harder for adults they feel connected to
- Changes the student’s view of the adult and of school
- Helps you learn interests you can use to motivate them
When to use it
- With students you have a strained relationship with
- With students who seem disconnected or unmotivated
- Before starting a more intensive intervention
Tips and pitfalls
- Keep it genuine. Students can tell when it’s forced.
- Don’t use the time to discuss behaviour.
- Use the interest inventory to find conversation starters.
Templates for this strategy
2×10 relationship log
Track ten days of two-minute conversations and note what you learn and any changes in behaviour.
2×10 relationship log.docxStudent interest inventory
Get to know a student’s interests, strengths, and preferences to build relationships and choose meaningful rewards.
Student interest inventory.docxHelps with
Not working after a fair trial?
Check that it’s been used consistently for 4–6 weeks and that your data shows the pattern. If so, look at the next tier of support for this behaviour.
Tier 2 · Targeted