As Winnie-the-Pooh said, "You can't stay in your part of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes."
We all have an innate desire to connect with others but sometimes feel unsure about how to do so. Teachers often see students suspended between wanting to interact and being afraid to attempt to. Just think of new students on their first day of school. They slide quietly into their desk, their eyes darting about looking for a friendly face in a room full of strangers. Their wary expressions relax as they catch a smile from a student across the room or when a classmate shows them where to find the water fountain. Some newcomers will hang back longer than others, but most make connections. These interactions in class, on the playground, and in the lunchroom turn into friendships. A few students will cause more concern as they struggle to engage or reach out, but with some mediation from a caring adult, these students, too, almost always find their allies.
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