Scenario Response 6

I want to build this student socially to gain better mastery over new vocabulary.  I strongly agree with the idea that students who feel a connection socially are more likely to come to school, feel a connection at school, and enjoy school more.  All of those feelings and attitudes are going to carry over into their learning experience.  A happy kid is going to be a motivated kid and a kid who is more likely to engage in the content in class.  If a child knows they get to work with their friend or a peer who they have developed a relationship with, they are going to be more excited to participate in the work.  It is the same for most adults--we prefer to work with someone we are fond of over someone we are not so fond or familiar with.  

Once the student feels comfortable and confident enough, they will participate in the learning, put forth effort, and demonstrate growth. I've witnessed it in my own classroom this year.  I had a student who is an ELL student join us after the school year began and at first, he seemed like he didn't want to be in class, he put his head down often, and didn't have a positive attitude towards school.  However, now that he has formed connections with peers in class and gotten to know us as a classroom family, he is happy, loves school, and craves learning.  He is always collaborating and discussing the assigned prompts with his table.  It's almost as if he is a completely different person due to his social connections he has developed.