Tools by Topic
Student Relationship Structures
Relationship structures reflect the intentional structuring of time and space, embedded from the classroom to the district level, to ensure that relationships among students and with adults can flourish. Time to connect, learn about and be with others is recognized as the avenue to learning and growth, so it is resourced and planned for, not short-changed.
At the classroom level, this may include class meeting/advisory periods, collaborative learning experiences, peer mentoring, and school and civic engagement opportunities. At the school level, this may include looping and cohorting students, interdisciplinary teaming, block scheduling, and expanded learning opportunities. At the district level, this may include structuring of longer grade spans (K-8, 6-12) and smaller school/class sizes.
Within relationship structures, students are able to make meaning of their experiences and authentically develop a holistic set of skills (e.g., social awareness, self-regulation, agency) through social interactions and collaborative tasks with their peers and with the support of adults who know them well.
Student Relationship Structures Continuum
The Continuum is designed to prompt reflection and empower growth across roles in a school by providing rich descriptions of quality and categorically different images of practice across levels: Emerging, Developing, and Advanced.
Student Relationship Structures Inventory
These tools support educators in identifying existing student relationship structures and learning more about the quality of experiences within structures, through an inclusive and reflective process.
Bank of Student Relationship Structures
This tool provides a bank of research-based relationship structures that can be implemented throughout school systems. Educators can use this tool as a reference document as they determine actions that are best suited to their context.
Rooted in Relationships: Master Schedule Analysis
This tool provides a process for reviewing the current state of student relationship structures within your school or classroom schedule. Through this process, educators will learn to identify three different types of relationship structures and reflect on opportunities to improve and integrate these structures throughout the school day.
Relational Microstructures
These relationally based, easy-to-implement “micro” structures are an example of an integrated approach to realizing a whole-child purpose. They function to increase opportunities for students to interact directly, build trust, share insights, and develop holistic skills (e.g., interpersonal skills, perspective taking, etc.).