Circle of Friends at Bryant Middle School \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Written by Nicole Mark<\/p>\n
The Circle of Friends is something we have used at Bryant for at least 10 years. It\u00a0started with a book a parent, whose daughter had a physical impairment, loaned\u00a0me, the school social worker. Because she looked different, she had never developed a close\u00a0friendship despite being in 7th grade. This book talked about the valuable lessons you gain from\u00a0friendships…lessons that a social worker, teacher, or other adult could not possibly provide.<\/p>\n
The Statewide Autism Resources and Training Project\u00a0(START) training that many social workers attended years\u00a0back taught about Peer to Peer support which, is basically\u00a0the same concept for students with autism. To quote the\u00a0presenter, \u201cThere is a window of opportunity, while students\u00a0with Autism are at school, to increase their socialization\u00a0and independence\u201d. There will be no other time in the\u00a0student\u2019s life where he\/she will be surrounded by 800 of\u00a0their peers 5 days per week. With a little guidance through\u00a0Peer to Peer, socialization skills can grow in leaps and bounds.<\/p>\n
To start a Circle of Friends, recruit peers from the focus student\u2019s classes. Choose some kids with\u00a0leadership skills who are respected by their peers and won\u2019t be too shy to go outside of their comfort\u00a0zone. Even students who have occasionally used those skills in a negative way are more beneficial to\u00a0the group than a quiet, straight A, \u201cteacher\u2019s pet\u201d type. Remember, kids respect peers for different\u00a0reasons than adults might.<\/p>\n
Begin meeting with the group weekly, including the focus student, to case conference. Answer the\u00a0questions:<\/p>\n
1. What positive behaviors have you noticed since last week?<\/p>\n
2. What behaviors need to change? (This includes how others are treating the student).<\/p>\n
3. Brainstorm regarding how to deal with the negatives.<\/p>\n
4. Which ideas will you try before the next meeting?<\/p>\n
I allow 20 minutes for these meetings and rotate which class I pull students from.\u00a0The real work occurs outside of group when students start to acknowledge the focus student in the\u00a0hallway, at lunch and in class, when previously, the student was socially invisible. The magic happens\u00a0when kids start to include the student during the football game in PE class or when they stop swimming\u00a0to hold their peer\u2019s hand while he very reluctantly jumps into the deep end of the pool. The miracle\u00a0happens when peers start to make plans for after school and weekends to hang out with their new\u00a0friend.<\/p>\n
Just ask Samir, who has Autism. He is a focus student this year who despite his own fears, jumps into the\u00a0deep end of the pool now. He describes the benefits of Circle of Friends as, \u201cFinding a new friend\u201d. When asked, he said, \u201cI am so lucky…and my friends are so lucky!\u201d Or you can\u00a0talk to Andre who also has Autism. He will tell you, \u201cI believe I\u2019m becoming quite popular\u201d. He had a\u00a0Halloween party last October and invited peers (most attended) and only one teacher. The peers say,\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s a fun way to learn social skills and the people helping find it fun too.\u201d<\/p>\n
At Bryant, we focus not only on students with special education needs but also general education\u00a0students who struggle socially. Research shows that the students most likely to be victims of bullying\u00a0are those who are socially isolated. We work to put a stop to social isolation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Circle of Friends at Bryant Middle School \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Written by Nicole Mark The Circle of Friends is something we have used at Bryant … Continue reading