Fostering Positive Peer Relationships and Creating a Cohesive Community in the ClassroomPeer relationships at school can facilitate or act as a barrier to learning and teaching. Peers play a role in social development and learning related to empathy, caring, social responsibility, negotiation, persuasion, cooperation, compromise, emotional control, conflict resolution, and more. Peers interaction provides social and emotional support, as well as models and molds others’ behaviors and beliefs and solidifies the student's own. (source) Positive peer relationships are fostered in a welcoming, engaging and supportive environment. An appropriate learning community in the classroom is built upon a foundation of trust, respect and encouragement. Positive peer relationships can be further developed through cooperative learning activities and productive collaboration. Character education is also an important component of positive peer relationships, as students learn how to make decisions and take action that is morally and ethically based. Creating visual cues together to remind students of how to be supportive in the classroom will engage the learners in realizing appropriate behaviors. In my classroom, I plan to discuss the following topics with students and create anchor charts to display our understanding: I attended a rural elementary school. I always felt welcomed, supported and as though I was an important part of the larger school community. My relationships with my peers were positive, supportive and encouraging. I was a Peer Mediator at my school. Peer mediation is a form of conflict resolution in which trained student leaders help their peers work together to resolve everyday disputes. I found that being trained in conflict resolution skills allowed me not only to help my peers work through disputes, but benefitted my personal experiences. Additionally, I was a member of various clubs and organizations at my school, including student leadership and broadcasting the school's morning program. I believe a cohesive community is developed through helping students find shared interests, taking pride in the group's efforts and encouraging collaboration. This can accomplished through encouraging participation in a variety of clubs and activities that are academic, social and sports based. Additionally, a peer mediation club will encourage problem solving and peer cooperation.
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