1. Conflict Resolution

2. Keeping the Peace • Violence • Do not possess conflict resolution • Need to foster early

3. Why Fighting • Understand their thinking • What situation led to conflict • Unaware conflict is two-sided • Need to learn perspective taking

4. Three Main Conflict Situations • Put downs • Bias statements • Physical fighting

5. Hard to Deescalate • Child needs to control hurtful impulses • Need perspective taking skills (think and relate logically)

6. Help Children in Conflict Resolution • I Statements • Active Listening

7. Active Listening & I Messages • Listen with full attention • Show at some level they understand • Put aside own thoughts & opinions • Looks at feelings and needs of others • Solutions can be found

8. Class Meetings • What are class meeting? • Creating a sense of community • Promotes cognitive development

9. Teacher’s Response • Calmly • Concern for sadness… • Finding way to respond (allow time) • Deep breaths together (watch your own body language) • Listen - limit distractions • Respond to feelings expressed • Work towards solution • Sorry is quick fix • Foster skills in life

10. Rheta DeVries & Lawrence Kohlberg • You build caring community by developing cognitive abilities and promoting strong social skills and values of higher level used outside the classroom and the larger society

11. Nuts and Bolts of Class Meetings • Four Parts • Opening • Acknowledgement • Problem Solving • Closing

12. Problem Solving • Gather information (all perspectives heard) • Solutions proposed • Parties agree • If nothing else gained feelings acknowledged and heard

13. Focuses on the Welfare of Others • Children empowered • Address inequities • Work towards righting wrong

14. Practical Ideas to Incorporate • Peace Table (diminishes authoritarian methods) • Not punishment • Adult acts as moderator/facilitator • Tell what happened • Children give alternatives • Adult restates alternative never states which option to take

15. Talking Stick • Ritual used by Native Americans during council meeting • 12” to 14” decorate feathers, stones, acorns yarn ribbon… • Emphasis everyone’s feelings important • Everyone turn can pass

16. Sand Trays • Sand and miniature figures • Adult listening role

17. Writing • Letter Writing – issues such as including more people of color in a specific magazine • Journals- adults can take dictation from children – they can illustrate if desired • Writing Books – collaboratively

18. Building a Sense of Community • A positive climate where the teacher models • Words • Actions • Openness • Empathy • Thoughtfulness