Grouping Together

At this time of the school year, many of you may be thinking about starting groups for students. Maybe teachers are beginning to send you names of students who need a group for anxiety, friendship problems, anger, grief, or other concerns. Or perhaps you are simply planning to repeat some of the groups you offered last year.

But before you start grouping students together, try something a little different this year.

How about some groups that had absolutely nothing to do with a problem?

Over the weekend, I was in the Czech Republic presenting at a conference. I love being part of this group of people. We weren't brought together because something needed fixing. We came together because we share an interest in the solution focused approach and want to see it grow.

Being one of only three Americans there can feel a little awkward at first. But then someone starts talking about a success, an exciting project, or something new they are trying, and suddenly the awkwardness is gone. Before long, everyone is talking and laughing about something we all enjoy.

And it made me think about our students.

Groups don't always have to be formed to fix something. Sometimes they can simply give students somewhere to belong.

So, as you walk through your school this week, look around differently.

Notice the student wearing the Taylor Swift T-shirt. How many other Swifties might be walking around your school wishing they knew one another?

Notice the student who is always drawing. The kids talking about a particular video game. The student carrying the same book series every day. The kids who love anime, animals, music, sports, cooking, Legos, or whatever else students are into right now.

Those are groups waiting to happen.

Imagine a Taylor Swift lunch group. A drawing table. An anime group. A group for kids who love dogs. It doesn't have to be formal, therapeutic, or complicated. Maybe they simply meet at lunch once a week.

You could even ask:

"If we started a group at school just because it would be fun to belong to, what would you want the group to be about?"

And pay particular attention to the student who seems to be on the outside looking in.

Sometimes helping a student belong isn't about helping them talk about what is wrong.

Sometimes it is simply helping them find their people.

There doesn't have to be a problem to form a group.

In fact, a group formed around something a student loves may quietly help with some of the problems we were worried about in the first place.