{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"\u201cYou matter here\u201d: What helps teachers feel valued at work.","description":"...with Dr Ben Looker Teachers can spend all day surrounded by people and still feel professionally isolated. In this episode Dr Ben Looker, from the University of Worcester, explains why informal peer relationships matter\u2014and how his study of 334 teachers led to a new theory: the \u201cRelational Dynamics of Mattering.\u201d He distinguishes feeling that you matter from simply belonging, and explores how trust, recognition, staff culture and even the spaces teachers share shape their relationships. The conversation also reveals how a toxic workplace can push teachers to consider leaving the profession, and what school leaders can do to create better conditions for connection.  The distinctive context of teacher peer relationships in England, including high accountability, workload and limited time for informal interaction. How teachers\u2019 working relationships compare with those in other professions and education systems. The role of peer relationships in providing practical advice, emotional support and professional connection. The difference between collegiality, collaboration, belonging and mattering. The development of the \u201crelational dynamics of mattering\u201d theory through grounded theory research. How professional culture, leadership, trust and everyday interaction shape whether teachers feel valued and included. The effects of mattering and \u201canti-mattering\u201d on teachers\u2019 relationships, wellbeing and decisions to remain in teaching. Ways schools can support positive relationships through recognition, staff voice, professional development, trust and informal spaces. How negative team climates may spread and influence staff experiences and retention. The importance of creating the conditions for peer relationships rather than expecting them to develop automatically. Paper \u2018The social and emotional dynamics of teachers\u2019 peer relationships\u2019: https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/journals\/education\/articles\/10.3389\/feduc.2026.1907631\/full Resources:https:\/\/www.worcester.ac.uk\/about\/academic-schools\/school-of-education\/education-research\/psychology-of-education\/social-contracts-research-impact.aspx Previous episode: The Pupil-Teacher Relationship with Dr Ben Looker: https:\/\/changingstatesofmind.libsyn.com\/the-pupil-teacher-relationship-with-dr-ben-looker ","author_name":"Psychology in the Classroom","author_url":"https:\/\/changingstatesofmind.com","html":"