When teachers make the effort to build a solid relationship with each student, built on trust, they often engender a life-long connection, one that's life-changing for the student. But how can teachers grow such long-lasting relationships with all students, especially disenfranchised learners and those who make it hard to connect? Crowley, a veteran 1st grade teacher, describes steps she and her co-teacher take to build relationships with each child, starting with telling students on day one, "Your long-term success in life is our goal." Other strategies she shares include talking sensitively with students about their academic challenges and any serious problems you know are happening at home; forging a plan with the student to solve such problems; making each student an "expert" on something in the classroom; tackling attendance problems; holding class meetings; and arranging one-on-one time with various students.