Starting Buddies: Implementing a Cross-age Community

Cross-age buddies can provide one of the quickest and largest shifts in the feel of a school, but getting through the set-up and logistics of setting up the pairs can seem like a lot of work. Here are some places you can find support to help get buddies started:

The Cross-Age Buddies Activities Book includes a lot of support tips around getting started (see page 22). Topics include:

• Planning for inclusiveness
• Forming teacher partnerships
• Initial planning with buddy teachers
• Creating student partnerships

The Agendas for Staff Development Meetings book in the Leader's Package includes a “Buddies Launch Meeting” (see page 24). Use this agenda as written or modify it based on what you have already done around buddies.

The Class Meetings that introduce buddies (see the two class meetings from Week 6 in the Class Meetings Kit) suggest using the getting-to-know-one-another activity “A Drawing of My Buddy and Me“ as a first activity; teachers can choose to substitute another getting-to-know-one-another activity if they wish.

A few other things to keep in mind:

• Try to keep buddy classrooms at least three grade levels apart, such as first and fourth grades.
• Think about how to support teachers with their preparation time, possibly setting aside time once a month for them to plan during a staff meeting.
• Explore setting aside time for the Buddies program to happen school-wide. Some schools choose Friday afternoons one or two times a month.
• Tap into buddy classrooms when possible around assemblies, lunches, or other school events.

Ginger Cook is the Manager of State and District Partnerships at Developmental Studies Center