Lessons from Student-Teacher Relationship Quality [STRQ] Research: Attachment and Equity in the Elementary Classroom

Abstract

For elementary teachers, the importance of developing quality relationships with their students cannot be overstated. This paper reviews the literature on student-teacher relationship quality (STRQ), including how it is conceptualized and measured, theorized factors that influence it, and its observed impacts. This is primarily examined from the lens of attachment theory, as it dominates the research of student-teacher relationships (STRs) for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Trends in findings are discussed with particular attention to students who historically have been marginalized and have experienced lower-quality relationships with their teachers. I conclude that high-quality STRs are an important aspect of pursuing educational justice and offer strategies for teachers to develop such relationships. Implications for future research are also discussed.