A Collaborative Alternative to Classroom Jobs

Educators know that creating a connected, supportive classroom takes more than assigning tasks. Traditional classroom jobs often help with routines and responsibilities, but they rarely tap into the unique strengths students bring to the classroom. What if, instead of focusing on completing tasks, we build a system that taps into student interest and develops skills to address the real challenges within a school community?

In a Peer Support Network students develop and use their skills to help classmates, creating a system where both giving and seeking support are encouraged. This approach fosters what we call “co-agency”—an acknowledgment and embrace of the reciprocal impact our actions have on one another—where students learn that agency is not just about taking individual action, but also advocating for their own needs and responding to the needs of others. This shift can cultivate a classroom culture that values collaboration, resilience, and shared growth.

Identifying Key Skills and Support Needs

To establish a Peer Support Network, consider first which tasks regularly require one-on-one support that could come from a peer. These could be skills that enhance learning, social-emotional development, or everyday classroom tasks. Here are a few common examples:

Technical Skills: Proficiencies with tools like Google Forms, iMovie, or other classroom software.
Academic Skills: Support with proofreading, editing, math strategies, or scientific methods.
Personal Management: Develop strategies to stay organized, meet deadlines, and maintain a tidy personal space.
Social Skills: Conflict resolution, empathy, active listening, and peer communication.

You should also create opportunities for students to suggest roles they feel would benefit the community. This honors their perspectives and helps highlight talents that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Writing Job Descriptions for Classroom Experts

Each Peer Support role should have a clear “job description” that outlines responsibilities and qualifications. Here’s a simple example:

Creating these descriptions encourages students to reflect on their strengths while setting clear boundaries for each role, so peers know exactly what they can expect from one another.

Empowering Students Through Upskilling Opportunities

One of the most valuable aspects of a Peer Support Network is the chance it provides for students to develop expertise in roles that genuinely interest them—even if they aren’t yet experts. This not only reinforces a growth mindset but also helps students discover new skills and passions. When students show interest in a support role but lack the specific skills, consider offering pathways to upskill them in collaboration with school resources.

Engage school support staff members to offer short, targeted upskilling sessions. For example:

Tech Specialists might provide training in Google Suite tools, video editing software, or other commonly used classroom platforms.

Librarians can introduce students to research strategies, digital literacy, and organizational skills that might qualify them as “Research Guides” for their peers.

Counselors could lead workshops on peer mediation, active listening, and emotional regulation, skills that are invaluable for roles such as “Conflict Mediator” or “Peer Listener.”

Administrators might facilitate sessions on leadership skills or time management, supporting students interested in helping others with these essential skills.

Facilities and Maintenance Team Members could offer insight into basic repairs, sustainability practices, safety, or building and construction.

These can be organized as brief, skill-focused training sessions or on-going mentorship programs. Either way, they provide a double benefit by empowering students to develop new strengths and allowing them to give back to the classroom community with greater confidence. Upskilling can be a regular part of the Peer Support Network, giving students a clear and rewarding path to expand their skills in a way that matters to them and positively impacts others.

Making the List of Experts Public and Flexible

Display the list of student experts in an accessible place, whether as a physical bulletin board, a shared document, or a classroom website. Keeping the list visible reinforces the culture of mutual support and normalizes help-seeking. Allow flexibility, so students can step into new roles as they develop new skills or ask to step down if they need a break. Regularly revisiting the list, perhaps monthly, can keep the roles relevant and provide a chance for all students to experience the give-and-take of a supportive community.

Explicitly Teaching Help-Seeking Skills

An essential part of this system is teaching students how to seek support effectively. Simple role-play exercises or structured conversations can make a big difference in helping students feel comfortable reaching out to one another. To maximize the benefits of a Peer Support Network, learners need practice with a variety of skills:

Identifying Needs: Guide students to recognize when they need help and what type of support is available.
Approaching an Expert: Practice respectful and clear communication, such as “Could you help me with…” or “Can you show me how to…”
Expressing Appreciation and Give Feedback: Show students the importance of gratitude and constructive feedback in a supportive classroom culture.

Emphasize respectful requests and positive feedback, so both the help-seeker and the helper feel valued.

Conclusion

A Peer Support Network turns the classroom into a community where each student’s strengths are resources for everyone’s growth. By guiding students in offering and seeking help, we nurture skills that reach beyond academics—collaboration, empathy, and a sense of shared purpose. In a world where success often depends as much on lifting each other up as on individual achievement, we’re empowering students to thrive in environments where collective success is as valued as individual success, fostering a future where everyone’s growth contributes to a stronger whole.

Building a Peer Support Network