As educators, it’s important to teach students about the various relationships they have in their lives and how to navigate them appropriately. The Relationship Ruler is a useful tool that can help students understand how to act around different levels of people. In this blog post, we’ll explore the concept of the Relationship Ruler, offer a no-prep activity for educators, discuss related skills, and provide next steps for incorporating this skill into your teaching.

Introduction

The Relationship Ruler is a concept that helps students categorize the different types of relationships they have in their lives. By understanding these categories, students can learn how to act appropriately around people at different levels of closeness. The five main levels of the Relationship Ruler are:

• Family
• Closest friends
• Friends
• Acquaintances
• Strangers

Teaching students about the Relationship Ruler can help them develop stronger social skills and improve their interactions with others.

No-Prep Activity

Here’s a simple, no-prep activity that you can use to introduce the Relationship Ruler concept to your students:

1. Ask students to create a list of people they know, including family members, friends, and acquaintances.
2. Have students categorize each person on their list according to the Relationship Ruler levels.
3. Discuss with students how their behavior might change depending on the level of the person they are interacting with. For example, they might hug a family member but not an acquaintance.
4. Encourage students to share their thoughts and experiences on how they act differently around people at different levels of the Relationship Ruler.

Discussion Questions

Use these questions to stimulate further discussions on the Relationship Ruler concept:

1. Why is it important to understand the different levels of relationships in our lives?
2. How can the Relationship Ruler help us make better decisions in social situations?
3. Can you think of a time when you treated someone at an inappropriate level on the Relationship Ruler? How did it affect your relationship with that person?
4. How can understanding the Relationship Ruler help us build stronger connections with others?
5. How can we use the Relationship Ruler to improve our communication with people at different levels in our lives?

Related Skills

Teaching students about the Relationship Ruler can also help them develop other important social-emotional learning skills, such as:

• Empathy
• Active listening
• Respect for personal boundaries
• Conflict resolution
• Assertiveness

By incorporating the Relationship Ruler into your teaching, you can help students build a strong foundation for successful social interactions and relationships.

Next Steps

Interested in incorporating the Relationship Ruler and other social-emotional learning skills into your teaching? Sign up for free sample materials at Everyday Speech and explore a wide variety of resources designed to help you teach these essential skills. With the right tools and guidance, you can help your students develop strong relationships and navigate social situations with confidence.