Neila A. Connors 
If You Don’t Feed the Students, They Starve 
Improving Attitude and Achievement through Positive Relationships

Award-winning teacher Neila A. Connors shares her secrets for
creating positive classroom relationships

From the author of the best-selling If You Don’t Feed the
Teachers, They Eat the Students, comes an innovative resource
for all who work with pre-K through 12th grade students. Neila
Connors presents a wealth of strategies and techniques to help
teachers develop, maintain, and sustain positive student
relationships. If You Don’t Feed the Students offers
practical, commonsense methods for improving classroom performance,
served up in an engaging and entertaining manner.

* Unique, classroom tested strategies for validating all students
to help them succeed in the classroom

* Proven approaches that will benefit teachers, student teachers,
and school administrators alike

In this fun, must-have resource, Connors reveals how empowering
students creates a climate of care and compassion and improves
everyone’s attitudes and achievement.

Table of Content

Acknowledgments xv

About the Author xvii

Preface xix

Introduction xxi

1 ‘Welcome!’: A Courteous Greeting, and Everyone is Valued 1

Dignity 1

Respect 2

Relationships 4

Care and Compassion 6

Wellness 6

Everyone Must Feel Valued 10

F.O.O.D (Fulfilling Opportunities Offered Daily) for Thought 11

2 Ambiance: A Positive Climate and Culture 15

Climate 16

Elements of Climate 18

Culture 20

F.O.O.D (Fulfilling Opportunities Offered Daily) for Thought 23

3 Safety: Physical, Emotional, Social, and Intellectual 29

A Safe and Secure Environment 30

Five-Star Schools Have Goals 33

Physical Safety 34

Trust 35

Bullying 36

Motivation 38

Discipline 42

Social Safety 48

Emotional Safety 50

Intellectual Safety 52

F.O.O.D (Fulfilling Opportunities Offered Daily) for Thought 53

4 Menu: A Variety of Options Based on Our Needs 63

Building Positive Relationships 63

First Days/Weeks/Month of School 64

Seize the Day 66

Connections 66

Commitment 66

Consistency 67

Choices 68

Challenges 68

Collaboration 69

Communication 69

Celebrations 69

Relevance 70

F.O.O.D (Fulfilling Opportunities Offered Daily) for Thought 71

5 ‘This Way Please’: An Effective Leader and Vision 77

Vision 79

Mission 79

Values 80

When Life Gives You Lemons Become a L.E.M.O.N.A.D.E. Leader 82

F.O.O.D (Fulfilling Opportunities Offered Daily) for Thought 86

6 ‘I’ll Be Your Server’: A Team of Caring and Trained Adults 91

F.O.O.D (Fulfilling Opportunities Offered Daily) for Thought 95

7 Communication: Succinct, Effective, and Ongoing 103

Speaking 108

Listening 109

Reading and Writing 110

F.O.O.D (Fulfilling Opportunities Offered Daily) for Thought 110

8 Satisfaction: We Left F.E.D. and Eager to Return 119

Fulfilled 120

Attitude 120

Energized 123

De-Stressed 123

Change 126

F.O.O.D (Fulfilling Opportunities Offered Daily) for Thought 128

9 Comment Card: The Opportunity to Provide Feedback 131

Skills for Learning 133

T.I.P.S.: Techniques Improving the Performance of Staff and Students 136

F.O.O.D (Fulfilling Opportunities Offered Daily) for Thought 137

10 Fun: An Environment That Everyone Enjoys 141

F.O.O.D (Fulfilling Opportunities Offered Daily) for Thought 146

11 ‘Check Please’: Reflection Shows the Experience Was Worth It 151

F.O.O.D (Fulfilling Opportunities Offered Daily) for Thought 155

About the author

NEILA A. CONNORS is a former elementary teacher, a middle level teacher and administrator, and a high school advanced placement coordinator. Presently, Connors teaches middle and high school students at Scholars Academy in Thomasville, Georgia. She has also been a middle grades consultant in the Florida Department of Education and a tenured professor in the Department of Secondary Education at Valdosta State University, Valdosta, Georgia. Her bestselling book, If You Don’t Feed the Teachers, They Eat the Students has sold over 500, 000 copies.