Assign A Buddy Or Partner

Why should I do it:

• Helps teachers with time management
• Provides modeling behaviors for other students
• Increases student buy-in
• Increases student responsibility and accountability
• Helps students to focus and stay on task
• Decreases challenges to authority
• Lowers stress, intimidation, and anxiety levels for students
• Helps students get answers and clarification to directions quickly and more frequently
• Provides good opportunities for socialization and interactions
• Helps students build rapport with others

When should I do it:

• When a student is easily distracted and is frequently losing focus
• When a student needs a little extra help or guidance with tasks
• When a student has trouble with organization, getting things out, putting things away, etc.
• When a student is overly shy, timid, or non-responsive to adults and teachers
• When a student has trouble working independently
• When a student is being picked on
• When a student seems withdrawn or isolated
• When a student is new

How do I do it:

• Chose a buddy or partner that will serve as a good role model
• Talk in private with the student that will serve as the role model about what you would like them to do and why you are partnering them up
• Talk in private with the student who needs the partner or buddy, explaining that they will be partnered up with another student and why
• Speak with the two students together and explain the purpose of putting them together and what your expectations are
• You may use more than one buddy or partner