How to Encourage Friendships in the Classroom: A Guide for Teachers

Seating charts, classroom activities, and creating the right pairs in your classroom are all ways educators can help students develop their social and emotional skills within a larger group.

For students, developing a sense of belonging in their classroom is an important part of their wellbeing and ability to thrive academically. But classrooms are often a mixed bag of pre-defined friendships, quiet students who keep to themselves, and boistrous students who can disrupt the learning for others.

As a teacher, how can you ensure you're giving all your students the best chance to create strong friendships and help them learn about collaboration and cooperation in the classroom?

Smiling Mind's Psychologist, Therese Sheedy, offers her unique insights in this article. Here, you'll learn about the different stages of group development, how to support students who aren't connecting naturally, with a range of activities to get your class working together.