The support teachers provide is crucial to ensuring all students have the opportunity to engage in learning in safe, supportive and well-managed learning environments. Students may require varying supports depending on their strengths and needs, including reasonable adjustments to the learning environment, teaching or curriculum.
This practice guide will assist teachers in supporting the social inclusion and connections of students through successful social interactions. It’s part of a suite of resources developed in partnership with MultiLit and the Institute of Special Educators to help teachers refine or refresh their understanding and practice of supporting students with diverse needs.
This guide outlines the following practices for supporting students’ social interactions:
- Identify students’ preferences, strengths and needs.
- Model and explicitly teach skills to support positive social interactions.
- Teach students to support each other to build positive social connections.
The advice in these guides is designed to complement – not replace – existing school and system policies, procedures and guidance.
Keywords: classroom management, student engagement