As legendary Cubs manager Joe Maddon did with his players, seeing students as people first works for teachers who hope to build cohesive classes that achieve. Maddon's strength was his emphasis on cultivating positive relationships among his players. Taking a tip from Maddon's strategy, Fornaciari, an Advanced Placement history teacher, shares seven strategies and habits from his toolkit that help teachers cultivate bonds with each learner and build positive feeling within his classes as a whole: Propose a shared, ambitious mission; create a safe environment; get to know one another; challenge students and offer support; develop rituals; celebrate student success publically; and use humor.