$18
weeklyor $70 for all content
Keeping Friends: Building Strong and Lasting Connections
Completed by 1 learner
Ages 11-16
Self-Paced Course
4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks of teacher support
Choose your start date
1 year of access to the content
Enroll Now, Start Anytime
Go at your own pace
Your learner can start learning when they want and progress at the speed that works best for them.Start when you want.
Learn at your own pace
Access course material for a full year.
Get hands-on support from teacher.
What's included
4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentHomework
1 hour per week. Each section will have homework, and I will be providing feedback. It can be a "Real World" Lab project, a reflection exercise or assignment that reinforces the lesson. Feedback will be provided within 24-48 hours of submittal.Assessment
I will be providing written feedback.Class Experience
Friendships have two key parts: making friends and keeping them. In this self-paced course, we focus on the second part—nurturing friendships and building meaningful connections that last. Students will explore how to navigate the ups and downs of friendships, from setting healthy boundaries to creating balanced relationships based on trust, empathy, and respect. Through realistic scenarios, interactive games like "Too Much or Just Right," and tools like the "Friendship Balance" scale, students will learn practical skills for evaluating and improving their social connections. We'll also cover how to handle the evolving nature of friendships, celebrate each other’s successes, and reflect on being a supportive friend. How the Class is Set Up: Each section will include a video where we go over a specific concept, usually through a Google Slide presentation. Some videos will have us doing activities "together" using props, games, experiments, or slides as you learn a particular skill. Then, you will complete an assignment, which comes with a dedicated video explaining what to do. Some sections will also include a "Real World Lab," where you'll put your skills into practice in everyday situations and reflect on what happened. Feedback will be provided within 24-48 hours of assignment submission. This self-paced class format gives you the flexibility to watch the videos and complete the projects at times that are convenient for you. It’s perfect for students who want to take small steps privately (as opposed to a live class) while learning how to navigate social dynamics. If you're also interested in learning how to make friends and start conversations, check out my other course, How to Meet People, Make Friends & Make Conversations which focuses on the foundational skills of meeting people and making new connections!
Learning Goals
Develop Active Listening Skills – Students will learn to identify and practice active listening, distinguishing it from passive listening to enhance their communication in friendships
Understand the Importance of Balance in Friendships – Students will explore the concept of giving and receiving in friendships, using a visual scale to evaluate their own relationship dynamics.
Syllabus
4 Lessons
over 4 WeeksLesson 1:
Active Listening and Empathy
In this section, we dive into the heart of good conversations: active listening. You'll learn to distinguish between active and passive listening through real-world scenarios and examples. We'll play an interactive game to practice these skills in a fun and engaging way. After that, we’ll explore empathy—what it means to truly understand others and how to spot the difference between empathetic and non-empathetic responses.
Lesson 2:
The Friendship Balance
In this section, we explore the give-and-take that forms the foundation of every friendship. We'll use a scale to visualize the balance between giving and receiving in relationships and even dive into some fun percentages to see where things stand. You’ll categorize actions to reflect on what you’re investing (or not) in your friendships. Next, we’ll discuss trust, using a story about a delicate vase to show how precious and crucial this trait is.
Lesson 3:
Boundaries and Celebrating Success
In this section, we’ll explore boundaries—what they are, why they matter, and how they help protect us without controlling others. You’ll learn what actions to take if someone crosses your boundaries, and we'll play a fun game called "Too Much or Just Right" to practice recognizing when boundaries are being respected or not. We’ll also touch on celebrating your friends' successes and share some simple ways to show your support.
Lesson 4:
The Evolving Nature of Friendship
In this final section, we take a real look at how friendships can change and evolve over time. Relationships might shift or even end due to changing interests, growing up, or life’s natural transitions. But this doesn't have to be negative! We’ll discuss how to hold on to the good memories and lessons learned. You'll go through a checklist to evaluate your current friendships, reflecting on whether they still work for you.
Other Details
Pre-Requisites
Not a Pre-Req but very helpful to take the course -How To Meet People, Make Friends & Make Conversation (either the regular version or the teen version)
Language of Instruction
English
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Meet the teacher
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in Health or PE from University of Delaware
I have been a Career Coach and Recruiter for 15 years coaching candidates on how to interview and get the job they want (Perfect for developing my passion of “People Science” or learning how people effectively interact and communicate with each other through verbal and non-verbal cues). I also coached my son and helped him navigate through the social waters of school from elementary through high school. Additionally, I created a game called Friend Master to help develop learnable social skills.
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