Morning/Class Meetings
Friendship Academy : 2/10 - 2/13
Monday: February 10th: Kinder - 2nd
Tell students that we are working participating in Friendship Academy over the next two weeks. Explain that they will learn and or practice something related to friendship each day. Let's review with our students today some qualities of friendship. Below you'll find several examples and non examples of friendship skills.
Read the following qualities to your students. If they feel that the quality is a good example they will show you a thumbs up, if they feel that the quality is a bad example, they will show a thumbs down.
1. Asks about how you're doing
2. Makes fun of you
3. Is unkind with their hands or feet when they play. (Shoving, hitting, snatching)
4. Asks you how they can help when they see you upset or sad.
5. Takes your things without permission.
6. Interrupts when your talking.
7. Uses kind words and a kind tone of voice when speaking to you and others.
8. Shares with you and others.
9. Invites people to play who don't have anyone to play with.
10. Shouts at you when you make a mistake.
11.Tells you that you can't be their friend unless you do what they want to do.
12. Remembers things that you like.
13. Encourages you when you try something new.
14. Uses an unkind tone when they don't get their way.
15. Is kind to everyone they see...not just you and your other friends.
Tuesday: February 11th: Kinder - 2nd
Remind students that sometimes it's hard to find someone to play with. We don't always know what to ask, and sometimes we aren't accepting when someone does ask to play even though we didn't mean to be rude. Tell them that today we are going to learn how to and practice asking how to play as well as accepting someone's request.
Ask a student to come to the center of the circle with you to model (Pick someone who's social skills you are confident in. Tell them that when you ask them to play that they are going to say yes) Tell students that you are going to show them one great way to ask someone to play with you.
Script:
You: May I play with you guys?
Student: (Let them respond, but it should be something like...sure!)
Now tell students that they need to also practice how to accept someone's invitation to play. Sometimes when someone asks us to play we are playing a game that only has two players. Just because of that we don't have to tell the person no. That can be hurtful and seem like you don't want to play with them. And then...they are still left by themselves. It's better to explain and find a way to make it work for everyone. Tell them that you are going to show them an example. (Use the same student from before, but ask them to ask you to play.)
Script:
Student: Can I play with you?
You: Well, we were playing four square which only has 4 players. But, if you sit right here on the side lines, we'll play 6 more bounces and then I'll sit down for four bounces while you play for a while.
Remind students that when compromise you are thinking about the other person and making them feel included which makes everyone happy.
Have students practice in pairs of two.
Wednesday: February 12th: Kinder - 2nd
Ask several students to share what they love most about their friends. You can start by giving examples of good friendship skills.
1. They play soccer with me even when they like basketball more.
2. They share their crayons when I forget mine.
3. They always listen to me at lunch.
4. They tell me that they like my clothes.
Have each student pick one thing that they like that a friend does for them, and assign them a class friend. Have them practice that friendship skill with someone else in the classroom.
So, if my favorite thing that a friend does give me a high five in the morning, I'm going to share a high five with my friendship buddy today.
Thursday: February 13th: Kinder - 2nd
Complements to peers don't always come naturally to children. Neither do receiving them. Tell students that today they are going to be practicing giving and receiving complements.
Ask a student to come to the center of the circle with you to model (Pick someone who's social skills you are confident in.) Tell students that you are going to show them how to receive and give a complement.
Script:
You: _________ I really like how you colored your picture!
Student: Thank you!
Tell students that is always important to acknowledge a compliment by looking the other person in the eyes and letting them know you appreciate the compliment. Model again by receiving the compliment.
Student: ____________, I like your shirt today!
You: Thank you so much!
Have students pair up and practice complementing each other and receiving the complements.