Towards a curriculum targeting teachers’ relationship-building competence: Results of a Delphi study

Abstract

Although teachers often refer to personal relationships with students as a motivating and fulfilling part of their job, they also report that building these relationships is one of the most difficult aspects of teaching. This Delphi study investigated which competencies beginning teachers need to build relationships with individual students. Thirty-six competencies related to the importance of teacher-student relationships, key concepts, attitudes, specific strategies, and student diversity, were identified as ‘need to know’ by a panel of teacher educators and researchers. For most competencies, an intermediate level of mastery was expected. Results of the study can inspire teacher training.