Using "The Buddy System" To Promote Inclusion at School

My students love to "buddy up" with a reading buddy, a.k.a. another person who has the hat that matches theirs. Having multiple sets of these in my classroom allows me to mix and match buddies, whether it be for reading time in our classroom library or to partner for something else.

After utilizing Reading Buddy Baseball Caps in my classroom for a few months, I discovered that I could use them for another purpose... flexible grouping! Many teachers are encouraged to use a variety of grouping in the classroom to provide opportunities for collaboration between students. My students get excited to work in pairs, trios, and quads, for different types of activities and assignments.

At the beginning of the school year, I gave each student their very own cap, which is theirs to wear for the duration of the school year. They know that their hat is solely for them and not to share. (It's important to teach them this for sanitary reasons.)

It was very simple for me to train my students to know when they'd be working in pairs, trios, quads, or a mixed group. I cut up large squares of purple, yellow, and red construction paper and made labels with colorful word strips that say, "Buddy Up!", "Trio Time!", 4 Heads!', and "Mix It Up!".

Whenever I want my students to work in one of these groups, I post one of them in a small pocket chart on the wall and they grab their hats, put them on, and get to where they need to be. I even use it for "free time" in the classroom and to encourage my students to include anyone who is new to our class. I've discovered that this system helps omit exclusion in the classroom, which can be tough on "the new kid".

It's so much fun to watch my students working together in their little Reading Buddy Baseball Caps!