Conflicts are Problem-solving opportunities

1. Conflicts are Problem-solving opportunities Put your feelings in a safe place –choose to be calm, centered Listen to understand/ ask questions Use body language to reinforce your message Acknowledge feelings Find common ground (interests) Work toward a joint plan Sometimes all people need is “I’m sorry …….”

2. Participation Ownership Trust Process Recognition Fairness Dignity Feelings INTERESTS Motivating Need Resources, time, safety

3. It’s all about attitude…… • If there is one secret of success it lies in the ability to get the other person’s point of view and see things from their angle as well as your own. (Henry Ford) • Avoid direct confrontations: begin in a friendly way, smile, be a good listener, never say to them ‘you’re wrong’, be open to dialogue. (Dale Carnegie) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0pOWMHRgfI

4. Historical conflicts are alive here and now Systems shape your identity How you treat others Conflict is a natural part of living Professional Conflict Opportunities The Caring Classroom Teaching/ Conflict/ Professional Life Attitude is everything

5. Why Foundations of Education Philosophy History Social Structures Cultural foundations

6. Foundations of Education • Contemporary, contentious issues today connect directly to issues studied in the foundation disciplines • Teaching is a moral act: envisions for others what would be beneficial for them to know or be like • Teaching involves a power relationship • Teaching deals with diversity on every level • Thinking deeply about broad questions; making decisions about what, when, how. • Moral and social aims : respect, responsibility • Values of a democratic society: equality, justice, freedom

7. Foundations: a frame of reference how to divide your time how to engage your classroom in contentious issues Develop a professional identity, your philosophy Understand students, the human condition Social, psychological issue of conflict Exercise sensitive judgment among competing educational values, beliefs

8. Canadian History shapes the nature of conflicts today

9. Systems Shape Our Identity • Generations of belief systems, attitudes, structures • Beliefs based on race, ethnicity, communication styles, geography, profession, occupation, wealth, poverty, family conflict, privilege • Our assumptions about others are based upon those beliefs

10. Approaches to Solving Problems Adversarial Collaborative • Court system; legislature, legal system, voting, collective bargaining, debates….war • Competition for limited resources • Solutions imposed • Information is power • Win/lose; lose/lose; hard on relationships • Mediation, facilitation, alternate dispute resolution; interest based bargaining; consensus • Resources seen as part of the problem-solving process • Solutions bring satisfaction • Information shared • Win/Win; Hard on the problem; Preserves relationships; satisfaction

11. Adversarial CollaborativePerfection vs Discovery • Doing it a certain way • Based on being right • Failure – bad, wrong, instills a fear of failure • Don’t take risks • Control/ power • Frustration/anxiety • Judgment of self and others • Work and struggle • Inquiry and creativity • Based on what is • Failure – opportunity for greater experience/awareness • Willing to take risks- possibilities • Spontaneity; share power • Fascination and enjoyment • Appreciation of self/others • Play

12. FROM B A TO problem A + B

15. Take the higher ground:Move from a point of view to a viewing point Shift judgement to curiosity Choose Cocreation –energy of differences produces new ideas Perceive differences in personality and abilities as gifts/pieces of a magnificent puzzle

16. Listening Questioning • Gather information • Help develop solutions • Let them know they were heard • Understand details of what they need and want • Could you tell me more about • Why is it important to…. • How would you see that working out….. • How can we work together…..

17. WINE COUNTRY Form Quads – work in pairs 2-Queen City Labs 2- La Belle Labs Read background Negotiate the best deal

18. Professional Opportunities for dealing with Conflict Parents Extended families Colleagues Professional organizations Collective bargaining School staffs Students _________________ Instructional decisions Curriculum decisions Assessment decisions Student engagement In-depth learning vs coverage Evaluation decisions

19. A caring classroom Take the time to set up your classroom as a safe place Talk personally with each student Group development Norms: how we treat each other Respect for differences Problem-solving Processes Common Goals/ procedures Group Work

20. A caring classroom is where children ………. • Learn about their own culture • Learn about other cultures • Be a responsible part of the classroom group • Be able to talk respectfully about differences • Be able to use processes to deal with interpersonal conflicts playground conflict managers (elementary) conflict resolution facilitation (high school)

21. Success looks like.. • Students accepting responsibility for the quality of classroom life • Students participating in discussions • Students engaged in learning – seeing themselves as successful learners

22. Your attitude about Conflict Determines your ability to Use it as an opportunity or as A situation to be avoided

23. What will you bring to teaching….. • Knowledge of self • How you are perceived • Unpack your assumptions • Lifelong learner…….professional development • Find your strengths • Center yourself – loving yourself • Deal with stress

24. It is not whether you have conflict in your life. It’s what you do with that conflict that makes a difference