Have you ever wondered how to build meaningful relationships with students at risk of failing in school? In this conversation, our incredible guest, Dr. Don Parker digs into relevant strategies to build teacher-student relationships and create a welcoming learning environment that fosters student engagement, motivation, and achievement. He shares how to introduce these techniques into the classroom and connect with students on a personal level to increase their achievement in the classroom. Let's dive in!Dr. Don Parker is a speaker, author, and professional development provider and has been an educator since 1997. His experience in education includes working in the inner-city Chicago Public Schools district and predominantly low-income, minority suburban schools. His diverse background in education has provided him with the knowledge of how to best apply evidence-based methods and interventions to improve student behavior and increase student achievement.Key Highlights: [00:01 - 07:41] Opening Segment• Dr. Don shares his background and work• What you can use to increase engagement and improve achievement• What at-risk students mean• Check out his book Building Bridges[07:42 - 13:57] How to Engage at-risk students in class• Why teachers need to have strategies in place to deal with at-risk studentsThe importance of developing rapport with studentsModel respect and teach it to the students[13:58 - 20:45] The Potential for Greatness• Why students need consistency, expectations, and relationships to be successful in school• What helps build deep relationships with students• Make sure the student's needs are met and the classroom environment is supportive[20:46 - 27:08] Strategies to Build Relationships with At-Risk Students• How teachers can build relationships with studentsUse engagement strategies, icebreakers, and restorative practices• What The beach Ball activity is about and how it works• How to engage at-risk students in a way that is both effective and comfortable for both teacher and student[27:09 - 32:16] Closing Segment• Dr. Don Parker shares how to improve achievement and engagement with at-risk studentsLet’s Connect! Want to connect with Dr. Don Parker? Follow him on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. You can connect with our host Erica Terry on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Be sure to check out the Healthy Wealthy Educators website to learn more about different strategies to achieve your teaching goals!You can connect with the TeacherGoals community on Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, Instagram, and Twitter. If you'd like to engage in Q&A