Can the assumptions we make of our students halt their learning and success? When our relationships with students are not authentic we see an increase in classroom disruption and a decrease in student learning. Teacher-student relationships should be real and relevant, not based on a series of assumptions. In this presentation participants will learn strategies they can use in their classrooms to build real and relevant relationships with their students. Participants will learn a non-punishment behavior intervention strategy that leverages our relationships with students. Participants will walk away with strategies they can use immediately in their diverse classrooms; they will also walk away with ideas for leading these types of strategy discussions at their school.