ABSTRACT
Technology has replaced a lot of things in the classroom. It will never replace a smiling teacher greeting kids as they walk into class. When teachers connect with their students as they enter the room, they engage them in a way that may be more meaningful than the bell ringer. Every time we give a student a high-five, a fist-bump, a handshake, or a hug, we are telling them: “You matter.” School is stressful, and it is sometimes hard being a kid. hen they are able to make a personal connection with the teacher as they walk into class, it can go a long way toward injecting positivity into their day. A genuine greeting at the door can set the tone for the class, it can put the student in a positive frame of mind, and can even change the trajectory of a student’s bad day.
