The PBIS World Book

Assign A Buddy Or Partner

Why should I do it:

  • Helps teachers with time management
  • Provides modeling behaviors for other students
  • Increases student buy-in
  • Increases student responsibility and accountability
  • Helps students to focus and stay on task
  • Decreases challenges to authority
  • Lowers stress, intimidation, and anxiety levels for students
  • Helps students get answers and clarification to directions quickly and more frequently
  • Provides good opportunities for socialization and interactions
  • Helps students build rapport with others

When should I do it:

  • When a student is easily distracted and is frequently losing focus
  • When a student needs a little extra help or guidance with tasks
  • When a student has trouble with organization, getting things out, putting things away, etc.
  • When a student is overly shy, timid, or non-responsive to adults and teachers
  • When a student has trouble working independently
  • When a student is being picked on
  • When a student seems withdrawn or isolated
  • When a student is new

How do I do it:

  • Chose a buddy or partner that will serve as a good role model
  • Talk in private with the student that will serve as the role model about what you would like them to do and why you are partnering them up
  • Talk in private with the student who needs the partner or buddy, explaining that they will be partnered up with another student and why
  • Speak with the two students together and explain the purpose of putting them together and what your expectations are
  • You may use more than one buddy or partner