Introduction

Forming strong friendships is a crucial aspect of social-emotional learning for students in Special Education. It’s essential to teach them the importance of finding friends who are a good fit, as these friendships can positively impact their overall well-being. In this blog post, we will discuss an activity that requires no preparation or materials, present discussion questions to stimulate further conversation, and explore related skills that can help students develop meaningful connections.

No-Prep Activity: The Good Fit Friendship Circle

This activity helps students understand the concept of a good fit in friendships by creating a “Good Fit Friendship Circle.” Here’s how it works:

1. Ask students to sit in a circle facing each other.
2. Explain the concept of a good fit friend: someone who shares common interests, treats others well, and makes them feel comfortable.
3. Invite each student to take a turn in the center of the circle. The student will briefly share their interests, hobbies, or things they enjoy doing.
4. As the student shares, others in the circle will raise their hand if they share a common interest or feel they could be a good fit friend.
5. After the student in the center has finished sharing, allow them to choose one or two classmates who raised their hands to discuss why they think they might be a good fit friend.
6. Continue with each student taking a turn in the center of the circle.

This activity encourages students to actively listen, find commonalities, and practice empathy while fostering a sense of community and understanding in the classroom.

Discussion Questions

To stimulate further discussions, consider asking your students these questions:

• What makes someone a good fit friend for you? What qualities do you look for in a friend?
• Why is it important to have friends who are a good fit for your personality and interests?
• How can you get to know someone better to determine if they are a good fit friend?
• Can you share an experience when you realized someone was a good fit friend for you? What made you realize this?
• What can you do to be a good fit friend for others?

Related Skills

In addition to finding friends who are a good fit, there are other important social-emotional skills that can help students in Special Education form strong relationships:

• Active listening: Being attentive and showing genuine interest in what others are saying.
• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
• Conflict resolution: Addressing and resolving disagreements in a respectful and constructive manner.
• Effective communication: Expressing thoughts and feelings clearly and respectfully.
• Self-awareness: Recognizing one’s emotions, strengths, and weaknesses.

Next Steps

Incorporating principles of social-emotional learning into your classroom can greatly benefit your Special Education students. To help you further explore these skills and activities, we encourage you to sign up for free samples of the discussed skill and others at Everyday Speech. These resources can support you in guiding your students towards building strong, lasting friendships and enhancing their overall well-being.