Great youth development spaces don’t just happen—they’re built on strong relationships! When mentors, coaches, and educators create environments where every young person feels heard and valued, engagement grows, confidence soars, and learning thrives. Research shows that strong adult-youth relationships fuel motivation, social connections, and long-term success.
This edition brings you fresh strategies to help you foster a proactive, relationship-centered learning environment.
Let’s build the skill together!
Build the Skill:
Proactive Relationship Building
- Connection Cards: Spend 2 minutes each day checking in with 3 different youth using their cards containing their interests, goals, and previous conversation notes. Cycle through all youth each month.
- Regular Check-Ins: Implement “Rose, Thorn, Bud” check ins at the start of each week: Rose (highlight), Thorn (challenge), Bud (something they’re looking forward to). Use a tracking sheet to follow up on thorns and buds in subsequent conversations.
- Talent Showcase: Design a “Talent Spotlight” board that rotates weekly, featuring 2-3 students’ unique skills or interests with photos and their written reflections. Include specific ways other students can connect with them about shared interests.
- Reactive Response: Responding to behavioral challenges without understanding context – instead, create a quick “What Happened?” form that helps youth reflect before having a solution-focused conversation.
- One-size management: Over-relying on whole group management strategies – develop individualized success plans with specific triggers, calming strategies, and positive reinforcement approaches for youth who need extra support.
Relationship Building Strategiesfor the Classroom:
A guide with concrete, actionable strategies you can use to help strengthen relationships in classrooms both in person and virtually.
Ready to learn more?
ALL SKILLBUILD TRAININGS ARE COST-FREE
ECOURSE:
Cultivating Proactive Learning Environments – When mentors, coaches, and educators create environments where every young person feels heard and valued, engagement grows, confidence soars, and learning thrives. Research shows that strong adult-youth relationships fuel motivation, social connections, and long-term success.
LIVE TRAINING:
Trauma and the Brain – When mentors, coaches, and educators create environments where every young person feels heard and valued, engagement grows, confidence soars, and learning thrives. Research shows that strong adult-youth relationships fuel motivation, social connections, and long-term success.
JOIN OUR PEER-LEARNING COMMUNITY:
Pull up a seat at the table! Connect with fellow youth pros in a dynamic space to swap ideas, solve challenges, and spark fresh strategies that fuel real impact. Pre-summer 4 week virtual cohort kicks off May 1— click to join the movement.
