As educators, we often work with students in Special Education to help them develop essential social-emotional skills. One such skill is understanding the relationships we have with different people and how our behavior might change based on those relationships. In this blog post, we will discuss the Relationship Ruler concept and provide a no-prep activity, discussion questions, related skills, and next steps for educators to help their students make sense of their social interactions.
Introduction
The Relationship Ruler is a helpful tool for students to understand the various levels of relationships they have with people in their lives. It helps them recognize how their actions and the level of personal information they share may differ based on the closeness of their relationships. By understanding the different levels of relationships, students can learn to navigate social situations more effectively and develop healthier connections with others.
No-Prep Activity
In this activity, ask your students to create their own Relationship Ruler by writing down the names of people they interact with on a regular basis, from family members to acquaintances. Have them sort these names into categories based on the closeness of their relationships:
- Family
- Close friends
- Friends
- Acquaintances
- Strangers
Once the students have sorted their relationships, engage in a discussion about appropriate actions and behaviors for each category. For example, discuss how it might be appropriate to hug a family member but not an acquaintance, or how they might share personal details with a close friend but not a stranger.
Discussion Questions
- Why is it important to understand the different levels of relationships in our lives?
- How can recognizing the Relationship Ruler help us make better choices in social situations?
- What are some examples of actions or behaviors that are appropriate for one level of relationship but not for another?
- How might our relationships change over time, and how can we adjust our actions accordingly?
- What strategies can we use to develop healthier and stronger relationships with those around us?
Related Skills
Understanding relationships and how to act around different people is just one aspect of social-emotional learning. Other related skills that can help students further develop their social-emotional competencies include:
- Empathy and perspective-taking
- Active listening and communication
- Conflict resolution and problem-solving
- Emotion regulation and coping strategies
- Building and maintaining friendships
Next Steps
Ready to explore more strategies and tools to support your students in Special Education? Sign up for free samples of the Relationship Ruler and other essential social-emotional learning skills at Everyday Speech. Our resources are designed to help educators like you make a meaningful impact on the lives of your students.
