Despite the expansion of bully-proofing programs in recent years, many teachers feel they lack the training necessary to manage the complexities of friendship at work in the classroom and on the playground. Teachers want their students to be friends and to be kind to each other. The reality is, all children have moments in which they are unkind.…

There's no doubt that children's home environments have a huge impact on the kind of people they become. But so do their educational environments. A number of schools are beginning to realize it's worth it to spend the time on "soft" skills such as empathy. Even forgetting the recent scary headlines about bullying, teachers know that a classroom…

Children learn more about themselves when they explore the special joys and responsibilities of friendship. Activities that encourage students to think about what it is to be or to have a friend are suggested. (DF)

Describes a pilot project designed to develop a textbook to help teach sixth graders develop positive attitudes towards the law, the community, and themselves. (RB)

Six short stories and related questions that can be used as discussion starters to help children explore interpersonal relations. (RB)

A fourth grade teacher examines the ever-changing and developing student teacher relationship. As students move on each year, past teachers still feel some degree of responsibility, and students learn about changing relationships. (SM)

Author points out how children are naturally interested in the future and suggests ways for teachers to encourage this interest. (GB)

Presents a collection of Valentine's Day-related kindergarten activities designed to help friendships grow. They include making personalized place mats as a group, creating decorated mail pouches, building heart shaped bird feeders, reading a book about friendly secrets and surprises, and decorating hearts with compliments about each student. (SM)

An elementary teacher describes how she helped a shy kindergarten student find the magic within himself that would lead to accepting friendship from other children. She discovered he needed patience and gentle prodding in order to move in the right direction. (SM)

Students with disabilities, whether they are developmental, cognitive, or physical, can find the "unwritten curriculum" of social life at school painfully isolating. Yet these children can be included, and experience the joy of connecting with peers. This article presents some simple techniques teachers can use to foster positive social…