Connecting with Students outlines dozens of positive strategies for bridging the gap between teacher and student through personal, academic, and social connections. Easily tailored to any learning environment, the activities and guidelines provide you with the tools you need in the classroom, from the ''H & H'' greeting to the ''2 x 10'' method, as well as the ''4H,'' ''think-aloud,'' and ''paradoxical'' strategies.

As both teachers and administrators alter their own attitudes and behavior, they learn to listen to students and accommodate their needs. The end result will be lasting relationships that can foster deeper understanding and growth for educators and students alike. In this book, you will discover ways to stay optimistic and persistent and see your students as having something to teach you.

Allen N. Mendler coauthored, with Richard L. Curwin, two ASCD books: Discipline with Dignity (rev. ed., 1999) and As Tough as Necessary: Countering Violence , Aggression, and Hostility in Our Schools (1997).