Robert%20Wm.%20Blum,%20MD,%20MPH,%20PhD

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Suggestions for Interpersonal Connection Willmar
Workshop

• Robert Wm. Blum, MD, MPH, PhD
• William H. Gates Sr. Professor and Chair
• Population, Family and Reproductive Health
• Lynn Michael Blum, MS PhD
• Adjunct Assistant Professor
• Department of Mental Health

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
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Suggestions for Interpersonal Connection Willmar
Workshop

• Ask students questions about their interests
• Ask students to share three things about
  themselves with other students (and then allow
  them to ask you questions about yourself)
• Ask students to share family stories, weekend
  events
• Never appear too busy for a student who wants to
  talk (active listening)

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Suggestions for Interpersonal Connection Willmar
Workshop contd

• Take time to get to know students personal likes
  and dislikes
• Help junior high students with organizational and
  study skills
• Be willing to approach a student who looks
  distressed and ask them, Whats up? How are you
  doing?
• Help students identify what they want to achieve
  and help them do it.

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Suggestions for Interpersonal Connection Willmar
Workshop contd

• Have students identify a goal at the start of the
  school year and share it with the class
• Phone a students home with positive feedback,
  not just problems
• Laugh with students
• Do activities that bring parents into the school
  and classroom
• At staff meetings, celebrate teacher and other
  staff professional and personal events

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Suggestions for Interpersonal Connection Willmar
Workshop contd

• Use journals in school (they teach writing and
  share stories)
• Know students names and call on them by name,
  greet them by name
• Look students in the eye, smile and listen to
  their concerns.
• Eat lunch with students
• Have an adult greet student each morning at
  school and on entering the classroom

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Suggestions for Interpersonal Connection Willmar
Workshop contd

• Interact with students in the hallway
• Acknowledge students when you see them out of
  school
• Bring something interesting from home and ask
  students to talk about it
• The all about me stew which entails students
  bringing in a sack of special things from home
  and talking about them
• Have students create an all about me collage

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Suggestions for Interpersonal Connection Willmar
Workshop contd

• Have students decorate the walls of the class
  with personal things and use hallways to showcase
  all students work
• Identify a student you dont know, learn their
  name, and some things about them
• Keep a log or Excel sheet to remember details
  about students
• Identify passions that students have, remember
  them and talk about them

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Suggestions for Interpersonal Connection Willmar
Workshop contd

• Use the PACE Patience, Acceptance, Consistency
  and Empathy
• Have a birthday card, birthday treat, or use
  other strategies to acknowledge birthdays and
  other events
• Send get well cards home for those out of school
  for more than three days
• Be willing to listen to all sides of a conflict.

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Suggestions for Interpersonal Connection Willmar
Workshop contd

• Write notes to students and stick them in their
  lockers about how well they are doing
• Attend student activities and performances and
  compliment them on those activities in class
• Send a post card home over the summer welcoming
  students back to school
• Do one home visit per student per year
• Hold a Monday Morning Meeting where students
  review the weekend and special event

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Suggestions for Interpersonal Connection Willmar
Workshop contd

• Be willing to share photographs and stories of
  your own life with students
• As an administrator, publicly thank teachers who
  do more than is expected
• Use a time out chair