Change Starts Here: Research Conversations is back for a brand-new season! In this first episode, hosts Dr. Eve Miller Ph.D. and Kim Yaris, M.Ed explore the secret to sustaining that back-to-school energy all year long by building strong teacher-student relationships. They dive into real stories from the field, including how a kindergarten teacher transformed a crying student into a classroom leader and why seeing students through a lens of love and potential—rather than their challenges—makes all the difference.

Kim and Eve unpack the neuroscience behind why safety and connection are foundational to learning, sharing practical strategies like giving students meaningful roles, creating personal connection moments, and being intentional about building relationships with every student. They challenge educators to move beyond labels and see each student's full potential, showing that strong relationships aren't just nice to have—they're essential for opening minds to learning and creating lasting impact.

Start this new season with fresh insights on the power of human connection in education. Whether you teach kindergarten or high school, these research-backed strategies and real-world stories will help you build the relationships that transform classrooms.

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Download the Our Handout below:

https://resources.franklincovey.com/season-6/lbrlh_k12

If you want to learn more about FranklinCovey, visit us at https://www.franklincovey.com/solutions/education/

Hosts: Kim Yaris, M.Ed (Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education); Dr. Eve Miller (Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 01:21) Intro

(01:22 - 05:19) The Student-Teacher Relationship

(05:20 - 07:02) Neuroscience Lens of Child's Behavior and their Needs

(07:03 - 09:26) How to Connect with Older Students

(09:27 - 12:37) Complexity of Human Relationships

(12:38 - 14:59) How to Give Love to Students

(15:00 - 15:42) Resources Available to Listeners

(15:43 - 20:03) How to Build Relationships with Students

(20:04 - 21:36) Outro