Pair Sticks

Why do teachers  ask children to get into pairs?

My daughter came back from school this week in tears, she cannot understand why it is always her that the teacher has to put into a pair. Getting into pairs is great fun if you are in a group with your best friend – however is it always a good idea to always be working with the same friend? My daughter is not socially mature enough to be able to anticipate when the teacher might ask her to get into a pair. Other more socially mature children make sure they are standing next to a friend or have even pre-arranged it before the lesson.

In my Brownie group if the girls need to work in pairs I will ask them to pick a partner that does not go to their school, or is of a different age, or is of a very different height. I appreciate that teachers do not have those differences. When I mentioned to a friend who is a secondary school teacher that my daughter was struggling with this, she was surprised that teachers still asked children to find a pair. She said that in her lessons she deliberately picks the pairs for the children or uses her pair sticks.

When I asked what ore those? She said  they are lolly sticks with numbers on them, each student takes a stick and partners the other student with the same number. Oh I wish all teachers were as kind as my friend. I have immediately made my own pair sticks for Brownies, dare I make a set of other teachers at my daughters school?

I have decided that I can’t but I will mention it at the next parents evening. However I can try to give my daughter some coping strategies. I have explained to her that other children will have pre-arranged their partner. When I told her this she looked utterly surprised, but I do think that she has taken it on board and let’s hope there are no tears tonight.