Traditionally there have been three R's in education; reading, writing and 'rithmetic. While I am sure that many people would agree these are extremely important, in fact essential to a great education, there is one R that is equally important and yet often not referred to; relationships.
School is about preparing children for an enriching and active life. This life comes from being part of and contributing to a community; whether that is the classroom community, school community or the wider community. Relationships are the 'glue' that bond us together, give us a sense of identity and provide us support and encouragement. While for many students forming friendships (relationships) comes naturally, for others it is equally as difficult. If children feel good about themselves and have positive relationships, research shows that it increases their 'school connectedness' and makes them feel better and more engaged at school. This results in better learning outcomes. Relationships can have a powerful effect on student happiness, well-being and learning outcomes.
Another related 'R' word often mentioned these days is resilience; how people can cope with or bounce back from difficult life events or circumstances. I'm sure we can all agree that 2020 has provided many opportunities to develop our resilience. Research suggests that for young people, this 'R' also depends on relationships, an ongoing, strong relationship with school, friends and significant adults can build resilience.
Providing opportunities for students to develop relationships is a valid part of the curriculum, and honing skills in such an area are an important determinant of success in life. Coolum State School staff work to develop these skills during teaching moments through encouraging students to collaborate, share, discuss, challenge and celebrate during the day.
This week I had the honour of listening to our Year 1 students present their poems. The teacher had provided the opportunity for the students to present to each other and the leadership team. The support, encouragement and feedback provided between students during this time certainly supported developing long lasting relationships and resilience in learning for these wonderful students. We never stop developing our relationship skills and resilience as we grown and develop to create connections to our place in the world.
(Anthony Ryan)