Support student friendships
Suggestion for implementing the strategy ‘Identifying areas to build teacher aide understanding and confidence’
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Be sensitive
Be sensitive
... adults must quietly step into the background, camouflaging their help as a tiger who may hide in full view.
Jamie Burke, a student with autism, who now attends Syracuse University
Foster peer interaction
Foster peer interaction
Demonstrate to teacher aides the different ways they can support peer interaction.
Leave space for peers
Leave space for peers
Ensure the teacher aide is positioned alongside students, not (unwittingly) creating barriers between students and their peers.
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Source: Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga
Use multiple approaches to support friendships
Use multiple approaches to support friendships
Consider different ways to support student friendships.
- Encourage students’ attempts to make friends by offering guidance about communication approaches and talking about feelings.
- Be a positive role model and respect individual differences. Model respect, caring, patience, and positive interactions.
- Promote connections around common interests.
- Provide opportunities for ongoing student connections.
- Help students to join ongoing group activities by identifying possible roles they can take.
- Help keep student interactions going – explain the actions of students whose social skills are just developing.
- Share information about emergent friendships with parents so that they can arrange for students to get together outside class.
Useful resources
Useful resources
Module 8 – Fostering peer relationships
This module from Special Education Online includes a workbook for teachers and teacher aides to work through together. It focuses on on ways to foster students’ connections to peers and school.
4 Parts of a Conversation: How to Help Kids With Social Skills Issues Navigate
Read time: 7 min
This UK resource gives 4 interventions to help students join, start, maintain and end conversations.
Publisher: Understood
Next steps
More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Identify areas to build TA understanding and confidence”:
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Current page Support student friendships
Return to the guide “Supporting effective teacher aide practice ”
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How to use this site
Guide to Index of the guide: Teacher aide practice
Strategies for action:
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Review and refine the TA's role and responsibilitiesShow suggestions for Review and refine the TA's role and responsibilities
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Develop effective recruitment, induction, and PLD processesShow suggestions for Develop effective recruitment, induction, and PLD processes
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Support and prepare teachers in their roleShow suggestions for Support and prepare teachers in their role
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Identify areas to build TA understanding and confidenceShow suggestions for Identify areas to build TA understanding and confidence
- Develop effective interactions
- Learn how to scaffold support
- Support group work
- Enable student independence
- Support student friendships
