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Supporting positive peer relationships
Support students to build relationships and work successfully with others. Adapt the strategies that are most useful/relevant.
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Strategies for action
Support and strengthen peer relationships
Relationships foster a sense belonging, which is an important basis for learning. Create an inclusive environment where students can work together and support and encourage each other to learn.
For many students, school can be a lonely place, and low classroom acceptance by peers can be linked with subsequent disengagement and lowered achievement.
John Hattie
Five suggestions for implementing this strategy:
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Includes:
- Video
- Resources
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Understand social and emotional learning
Includes:
- Video
- Resources
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Facilitate positive peer relationships
Includes:
- Video
- Resources
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Includes:
- Video
- Resources
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Support students in the playground
Includes:
- Video
- Resources
Facilitate collaborative learning
Use a structured, collaborative approach to provide students with specific roles and supports to build successful relationships.
Design learning opportunities where students with differing skills and achievements learn together and take responsibility for both individual and group achievement.
John Medcalf, 1995
Three suggestions for implementing this strategy:
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Organise a collaborative environment
Includes:
- Resources
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Plan opportunities for collaboration
Includes:
- Video
- Resources
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Cooperative learning strategies
Includes:
- Video
- Resources
Key resources
What is SEL?
The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) is the world’s leading organisation advancing the practice of promoting integrated academic, social, and emotional learning (SEL) for all children from preschool to high school. Their website provides information about SEL competencies, whole school approaches for introducing and teaching SEL, and resources.
Publisher: Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional
The FRIENDS resilience programmes
Information about the FRIENDS programmes for schools is available on this website. The programmes include Fun Friends for years 4–7, Friends for Life for years 8–11, and My FRIENDS for youth aged 12–16.
Publisher: Friends Resilience
Teachers and teacher aides working together: Fostering peer relationships
This New Zealand Ministry of Education module offers practical suggestion and strategies to foster students’ connections to peers and their sense of belonging at school.
The Peer Support Programme
Information on The Peer Support Programme a structured introduction to school under the guidance of senior students who are trained as leaders.
Publisher: New Zealand Peer Support Trust
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How to use this site
Guide to Index of the guide: Positive peer relationships
Strategies for action:
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Support and strengthen peer relationshipsShow suggestions for Support and strengthen peer relationships
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Facilitate collaborative learningShow suggestions for Facilitate collaborative learning
