Weekly conflict resolution sessions helped students learn to communicate feelings, solve problems, and create a safer classroom environment. The process involved students directly addressing conflicts with each other by stating how they felt and requesting changes respectfully. Ground rules ensured all students had a chance to share without arguing and left each session feeling united.

1. Establishing a PositiveClassroom Environment
Conflict Resolution
This is a great way for students to learn valuable social skills in relating to each
other in a positive way. Children learn how to communicate their feelings
without anger or blame, and build strategies to solve conflicts in a constructive
way.
While student teaching, I conducted this activity weekly on Fridays. The
transformation that occurred within each session as well as over time was
astonishing. Tension was released, feelings were mended, and a safer, more
positive classroom environment was created.
The steps An Example
1.The student directly speaks to the
other student he or she has a conflict
with and tells them what the conflict
is. The student must use an “I”
statement when telling the conflict.
“Susan, I didn’t like it when you kicked
me at recess today.”
2. The student directly tells the other
how it made them feel.
“I didn’t like it because it hurt my
feelings and made me feel like you don’t
want to play with me.”
3. The student directly tells the other
what they would like in the future.
“In the future, can you please not kick
me anymore at recess?”
4. The other student either agrees or
disagrees with the request.
--if agreement is made, move on.
--if student denies, reflections are
made and another compromise is
created.
(if yes): “Thank you.”
(if no, mediator speaks): “Why not?
What can you agree to instead? Thank
you.”
Ground Rules
Every student has the opportunity to share, but no one has to share.
Only the mediator and the people involved in the conflict may contribute during a
conflict resolution.
Arguing about what happened in the past is not the goal. Rather, the focus is on
the experience of the hurt feelingsand what to do in the future.
The goal is that eventually, students will be able to conduct the meetings
themselves with rotating mediators from the class.
End each session with a round of affirmations from the class. It is important to
leave the space feeling positive and that the class feels like a unit.