Creating an "Ecological Fit" through Supportive Teacher-Student Relationships

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dc.contributor.advisorGordon, Stephen P.
dc.contributor.authorPena, Rosa M.en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberBeck, John J.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberGuajardo, Miguel
dc.contributor.committeeMemberNelson, Sarah W.
dc.date.accessioned2012-02-24T10:22:11Z
dc.date.available2012-02-24T10:22:11Z
dc.date.issued2009-12en_US
dc.description.abstractThis qualitative study was based on the challenges of today's urban schools and highlights the work of teachers in these schools who have achieved increased successes in student achievement. Demographic changes in today's urban schools have fueled an increased gap in the backgrounds of the students and their teachers. Many teachers also lack an awareness of the importance of supportive teacher-student relationships. The purpose of this study was to document and describe the positive connections teachers make with students and to explain the nature of supportive teacher-student relationships. It is those positive connections and supportive relationships that form the basis for creating "ecologically fit" classrooms for all students. Through this study, teachers' understandings and actions for sustaining and developing supportive teacher-student relationships were explicated. The study took place in an urban elementary school and involved three teachers and the students and parents from each of the teachers' classes. All participants in the study were interviewed and observed on numerous occasions to obtain first-hand knowledge of their views and perceptions about supportive teacher-student relationships. The study's findings clearly showed that culturally responsive teaching is essential in creating and maintaining supportive teacher-student relationships. Supportive teaching requires teachers to develop their own self-awareness and to understand where they are in their relationships with their students. In doing so, teachers are better equipped to create caring and supportive classroom environments that help meet the needs of diverse student populations. In conclusion, the researcher found that culturally responsive teaching and supportive teacher-student relationships directly attributed to the increased academic achievements of students instructed by the teachers who participated in this study. Furthermore, the researcher inferred that when teachers utilize culturally responsive teaching methods and create supportive teacher-student relationships in their classrooms, they ultimately provide the best overall education for all students.en_US
dc.description.departmentCounseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psychology
dc.formatText
dc.format.extent271 pages
dc.format.medium1 file (.pdf)
dc.identifier.citationPena, R. M. (2009). <i>Creating an "Ecological Fit" through Supportive Teacher-Student Relationships</i> (Unpublished dissertation). Texas State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, Texas.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10877/4126
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectTeacher-Student relationshipsen_US
dc.subjectSupportive teachersen_US
dc.subjectPositive teacher-student relationshipsen_US
dc.subject.classificationEducationen_US
dc.titleCreating an "Ecological Fit" through Supportive Teacher-Student Relationshipsen_US
dc.typeDissertation
thesis.degree.departmentCounseling, Leadership, Adult Education and School Psychologyen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineEducational Administration
thesis.degree.grantorTexas State University-San Marcosen_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen_US

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