From Buddies to Budding Friendships: Social-Emotional Learning in Junior Kindergarten
From Buddies to Budding Friendships: Social-Emotional Learning in Junior Kindergarten

From Buddies to Budding Friendships: Social-Emotional Learning in Junior Kindergarten

“I like climbing! And I can count to 100!”

What makes you a good friend? In addition to their explorations-based study of many academic foundations this Fall, Junior Kindergarten students have been learning about “taking a risk” at school through the lens of friendship. In community meeting, students considered what a friend is and how new friends are made.

“Friends are nice and fun.”

“You can be friends with anyone at school!”

And often, new friends are made by sharing an interest or preferred activity. Teachers supported each student in completing a “Friendship File” for themselves, labeling things on the playground that they most like to play. These visual references of their own and their classmates’ favorite activities and modes of play then support students in making connections and figuring out how to initiate play on “Take a risk” days. On these special days, students are partnered up by teachers with someone in their class and asked to spend one whole recess period playing together. Students use their Friendship File to notice things they have in common with their new partner and to practice inviting each other to do something they both like on the playground.

“You can be friends with anyone at school!”

With time, students build skills for play initiation, sharing their plan, being curious about someone else, and navigating unexpected events along the way. In addition to their monthly self-portraits, and portfolios of work around the classroom, these Friendship Files become a physical representation of themselves and others that support endless conversation about similarities and differences. As students practice noticing things about themselves and their peers, they expand their perspective-taking and confidence. Then, on Buddy activity days, our fourth graders partner up with JKers for a year-long match, when the younger students also get to practice their growing skills for asking about others’ preferences, and for making and accepting invitations to play.

“My buddy is so big! I have two and they are both big.”

How do you find out about the people around you and what they like to do? How can you “take a risk” and perhaps make a new friend or discover something new about a peer?

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