Surprisingly Simple Ways To Support Belonging and Attendance Series
Part 4: The Research Is Clear:
Stronger Connections = Better Attendance
We spend a lot of time looking at attendance data.
But how much do we know about the students behind those numbers?
Do we know what they love? What they're good at? What makes school difficult for them? Or what might make them excited to come to school?
According to the CDC, students who feel connected to school are more likely to have better attendance. And a big part of that connection is knowing that the adults at school care not just about their learning, but also about them as individuals. And one way we can strengthen that connection is by getting to know our students.
Small Talk Isn’t Small!
In our first book, Connecting Through Conversation: A Playbook for Talking with Students, we explore how small talk can strengthen our relationships with students.
Asking questions as students arrive at the bus ramp, at lunch, during passing periods, or at recess can teach us a ton about our students.
We can lean on music, pets, sports, or whatever our students are interested in.
And no, we don't need to understand all the latest TikTok trends to connect with them. A little genuine curiosity goes a long way.
The trick is to remember what we learn so we can use it to connect again.
Erika kept a file in her desk drawer filled with Post-it notes containing tidbits of information she learned about the students she served.
Because keeping track of who has a new puppy, who made the winning goal, and whose grandma is visiting is a lot to remember. Especially before coffee.
Then, days or weeks later, we can follow up.
"Hey! How did your soccer game go?" | "Did you get that new puppy?"
Those follow-up questions tell students something important: We listened. We remembered. And we cared enough to ask again.
Need a little help getting the conversation started? Check out the small-talk sentence stems for Connected Communicators on our CTC Resources page.
Small talk takes a little time, but it can make a big difference. When students feel known, they feel more connected. And when they feel more connected, they have one more reason to come to school.
This week, choose one student you'd like to know better. Start a conversation, remember what they tell you, and find a way to follow up.
Small talk isn’t small. Especially when it comes to attendance.
Next week, we’ll explore another surprisingly simple way to get to know our students: Ask them!
Want to go deeper?
We recently hosted our training Escape the Behavior Trap, where we break down why traditional responses don’t work - and what to do instead.
