1. Get started
Start by watching a short video. Then read the cartoon, quote and key principles. They introduce the main ideas covered in this module. Discuss these as a group. The learning outcomes describe what you’ll achieve once you’ve completed the six steps.
Ways to support peer interaction
Before I saw my relationship with the student as the most critical; now I understand that it is my responsibility to help Becca build relationships with other kids, not with me.
— Teacher aide, quoted in Causton-Theoharis & Malmgren, 2005, p.18
Key principles
- The support that teacher aides provide can help create an inclusive classroom environment. Teacher aides can enhance relationships between the teacher, students and peers.
- Teacher aide time is best used to ensure that students with additional learning needs learn alongside their peers, rather than being withdrawn to work with one adult.
- Teacher aide support for individual students needs to foster independence, perseverance and interactions with peers and teachers.
- In inclusive classrooms, the identity, language and culture of every student is recognised, respected and reflected in all relationships, environments and programmes.
- In inclusive classrooms, all students feel involved, and that they belong and are valued.
Learning outcomes
This module is intended to support teachers and teacher aides to achieve four aims:
- Identify and describe how teachers and teacher aides can impact a student’s sense of belonging and their connections with their peers.
- Discuss what they currently do in their classrooms to support students’ connections with their peers and their sense of belonging in the classroom.
- Plan and implement a new strategy or approach for fostering peer relationships in their class/school.
- Discuss how the new approach is working and make any necessary changes.