Teaching Conflict Resolution in the Classroom

March 21, 2018 By Proud to be Primary Leave a Comment

Conflict resolution is an important skill that students need to learn – beneficial to them within the classroom as well as in everyday life. Not only will kids use conflict resolution in the classroom, they will also continue to use these skills as they grow. The conflict resolution skills they learn in elementary school will help them solve problems as adults. So how do we teach conflict resolution in the classroom?

Teaching Conflict Resolution in the Classroom

Children learn social-emotional skills by watching, practicing, and eventually adopting the behaviors for themselves. Below you will find ideas about what conflict and conflict resolution is, and how to teach students the various aspects of this important life skill.

What is Conflict?

Conflict is a disagreement or problem that happens between two or more people. It can happen to anyone, from best friends to enemies. Most conflicts start small, but they continue to grow, snowballing into major problems. As teachers, we can explain what conflict is, in order to effectively teach how to keep conflicts from becoming major problems in the classroom.

What is Conflict Resolution?

When there’s a problem, it’s important to address the problem in a peaceful way, understanding both sides of the situation. This is conflict resolution or peaceful problem solving as I like to call it in my classroom. Conflict resolution is an important skill to have, both in the classroom and in life. By helping our students practice and adopt healthy ways of solving interpersonal problems, we help them succeed in other areas of their education and life as well.

How Do You Teach Conflict Resolution?

There are many steps to teaching conflict resolution. To truly teach conflict resolution, you’ll need to teach your students how to analyze the conflict. They’ll need to be able to identify the problem and try to understand what’s causing it.

Teach Understanding – Students need to understand what conflict is and how it can have a negative effect on a person. This type of understanding will help them know why conflict resolution is so important.
Teach Empathy – After understanding comes empathy. Once students understand conflict, they should learn to empathize with all other students involved. Conflict affects more than one person, so to resolve it, it’s important to empathize with the other person’s feelings
Teach Responsibility – Conflict involves more than one person. The students involved need to know how to take responsibility for their own part in the conflict. Whether they caused the problem or simply exasperated the situation, they need to admit that they were wrong and be willing to do their part to make amends.
Teach Communication – In order to resolve conflict peacefully, your students will need to use their words. Communication is vital to conflict resolution, so teach them how to talk about the issue and come to a mutually beneficial solution.
Teach Choice – Children need more than one strategy to solve a conflict independently. Talk about these different ways during a classroom meeting and have them practice different types with a friend. The ‘Wheel of Choice’ below offers many strategies that are simple and effective for kids.

How Can Conflict Resolution Be Used in the Classroom?

Kids will always have some sort of conflict, whether big or small. The conflict between kids can be anything, whether they’re fighting over a toy or pushing another student down at recess. Conflict resolution can be used in the classroom to help keep the peace between kids. When a small problem arises, such as a friend cutting them in line, your students can use what you’ve taught them about conflict resolution to fix the problem before it becomes more of an issue.

Teach kids a peaceful problem-solving method that they can practice and use with growing independence at school. The process involves the children following 4 simple steps to solve their conflict.

Activities to Teach Conflict Resolution

Kids learn best when they practice. This is especially true for conflict resolution. When you give your students fun ways to learn conflict resolution, they’ll have a blast practicing it. The more they practice, the more it becomes second nature. If you’re looking forward to teaching conflict resolution in your classroom, here are a few activities you can use to make it fun.

Role Play – A great way to teach conflict resolution is to role-play various scenarios. By acting out tough situations that might require conflict resolution, your kids have a safe place to work through the issue. You can discuss the process with them after, going through what they could do better next time. Great scenarios to role-play include resolving conflict with a bully, fixing a friendship after a fight, or getting along with a sibling.
Play a Game – Playing games with peers involves learning to get along and figuring out rules together. If issues arise during a game, they can work together calming to solve the problem and continue playing. “What the Solution?” is a fun card game to play that involves kids coming up with solutions to solve common problems.

Creative Writing – Encourage kids to write down or draw a picture to depict a story that includes a problem and a solution. This can be done as a short story or as a script. Encourage students to read or share their story with the class and allow students to talk about what they would do to resolve the same conflict.
Puppet Show – This is a wonderful activity if you have some students too shy to stand in front of the entire class. Have students work in groups to put on a puppet show. Students will have fun designing puppets, all while working together to learn how conflicts can be resolved peacefully.
Peace Maker Promise – Have children learn and sort differences between a peacemaker and peace breaker. Have them take an oath to be a peacemaker in the classroom.

Books that Teach Conflict Resolution

Reading books to your students can help you teach them about conflict resolution in a safe but fun way. The problems the characters face are oftentimes ones that your students have faced as well. As the characters journey through their problems towards resolution, children will get the chance to see a healthy way to handle conflict. Here are just a few books you can read to you students to teach conflict resolution.

Talk and Work It Out – This book, written by Cheri J. Meiners, is a great way to teach conflict resolution to students. This book focuses on using your words to solve problems instead of acting out. By teaching students to use their words, you’re teaching them how to peacefully solve their problems instead of using anger and aggression.
Let’s Be Enemies – Janice May Udry is the author of this book on conflict resolution. In this story, two friends become enemies due to unresolved conflict. Your students will love listening to the story as James and John work out their issues.
Give It Back! – Conflict happens at home as well as in the classroom. This conflict resolution book teaches kids how to resolve conflict with their siblings. These conflict resolution skills can be used in the classroom and on the playground as well.
Enemy Pie – One of the best outcomes you can hope for is turning an enemy into a friend. This book, written by Derek Munson, helps kids understand more about resolving problems and making friends in a creative way.
Confessions of a Former Bully – True conflict resolution requires understanding. Trudy Ludwig uses this book to help kids understand what a bully might be going through. This can help them look deeper so they can figure out why a bully might be acting out, helping them to better resolve the conflict.

There are so many fun ways to teach conflict resolution to your students. Which of these activities do you plan to use in your classroom?

Conflict Resolution Resources

FREE Responsibility Punch Cards

Catch kids when they are being independent and responsible problem solvers with a hole punch in the “Caught Being Responsible” punch cards. Click the image below to download the FREE Responsible Punch Cards.

Responsibility & Conflict Resolution Curriculum

The Responsibility SEL Curriculum includes 5 lessons and many activities that teach children about responsibility, goal setting, conflict resolution, and anti-bullying.

mind+heart Social Emotional Learning Curriculum

The mind + heart Social Emotional Learning Curriculum includes 8 units with 5+ detailed, character education, research-based LESSONS filled with TONS of hands-on and mindful ACTIVITIES that encourage children to express themselves and build important emotional and social skills. Click HERE for more details on the program.

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Teaching Friendship Skills in the Classroom

Teaching Responsibility in the Classroom

March 9, 2018 By Proud to be Primary Leave a Comment

As a classroom teacher, you are responsible for preparing your students. You need to prepare them for the next school year, giving them a strong educational foundation. You should also prepare them to be responsible and act responsibly in the classroom. Here are strategies for teaching responsibility in the classroom.

Teaching Responsibility in the Classroom

Teaching responsibility in the classroom is important. By teaching your students to be responsible in the classroom, you’re also teaching them to be responsible at home and in their communities. This is a life skill that they will need to practice throughout their lives.

What is Responsibility?

Teach the Meaning – Before your students can learn how to be responsible, they need to understand what responsibility is. To teach your students this important skill, lead a discussion on the meaning of responsibility. Discuss the meaning of it, as well as what responsibility might look like and sound like in real life.
Discuss Student Responsibilities – Since you’ve discussed what responsibility might mean, your students should start making connections to responsibilities they already have. Start talking with students about what kind of responsibilities they already have at home and at school.

Don’t Play the “Blame Game” – Kids should understand that each person has responsibilities and that they need to take responsibility for their actions. It can be easy to blame others when you forget something or do something wrong, but part of being responsible is taking responsibility for yourself. You can help teach children this concept by reading the story, But It’s Not My Fault by Julia Cook. In this story, the main character continues to blame others for everything that goes wrong with his day. He has to learn that he needs to accept responsibility rather than playing the blame game. Your students will enjoy the humor in the book as they learn more about being responsible.

Taking on Responsibilities

Brainstorm Ways to be Responsible – Since students have a solid understanding of what responsibility means, as well as ways that they’re already responsible, it’s time to take on new responsibilities. Gather students together to brainstorm ways that they can be responsible. This should include responsibilities for the home, the classroom, and their community.
Be a Responsible “Super Kid” – Making connections is a great way to help kids remember what they’ve learned. One way to do this is to do a fun activity or craft such as this Responsible “Super Kid” tie. Kids will love personalizing their ties and will feel proud when they wear them.

Role-Play Different Scenarios – Another way for kids to learn responsibility is to have them act out different scenarios. By role-playing, you’re giving kids a chance to see what responsibility looks like in action. You can help guide students during these role-play scenarios, helping them understand the true meaning of responsibility in all types of situations.

Rewards System – Good work deserves rewards. When your students actively practice responsibility, you should acknowledge them. When you notice a child being responsible, point out how wonderful of a job they’re doing. Catch them being responsible and reward them with a hold punch in a card (free resources below). If you have a classroom rewards system, you can make “being responsible” a way for them to earn their reward.
Create Classroom Jobs – Responsibilities for adults include going to work and having a job. This can be true for your students as well! Create classroom jobs that students are responsible for throughout the week. Each child can be assigned a job, whether it’s sharpening pencils at the end of the day or turning off the lights when everyone leaves the classroom.
Use Responsibility Cards – If you want to make things interesting, you can offer kids extra responsibilities. Have cards ready with different responsibilities on them. Encourage kids to pick and complete one every day or week.

Goal Setting

What is a goal? – Since your students know what responsibility means, they can now work on setting goals. Discuss with students what the word “goal” means so that they understand a goal is something you work towards.
Different Types of Goals – There are many different kinds of goals. One goal a student might have is to get a 100% on a spelling test. Another might be to run a 5k in an hour. These could be anything, from getting their homework done on time to completing their chores without being asked. Brainstorm school-related goals (academic or social-emotional) together to help focus their efforts in class.
Follow a Goal Setting Plan – Once students know what a responsibility goal is and you’ve created a list together, it’s time for them to come up with their own goal. Encourage them to reflect, set a goal, make a plan, and then practice.
Create a Bucket List – A fun way to set goals for the future is to make a bucket list of goals. They can get creative here and record their dream adventures and goals for their life.

3 Stars & a Wish – Another way to record goals is to use the 3 stars and a wish strategy. Kids will share a few things they are good at and do well (stars) and something they want to work on and get better at (a wish). This simple technique is ideal for our younger students who are just starting out with goal setting. It also works well when you want kids to reflect on an activity they did or make a new goal each season or term. Grab the FREE templates to use below!

Responsibility Resources

FREE Stars & a Wish Goal Setting Templates

Teach children to set goals and record them to make a plan using the 3 stars and a wish technique. Click the image below to download the FREE Stars & a Wish templates to get those goals on paper.

FREE Responsibility Punch Cards

Encourage and “catch” kids in the act of being responsible, while giving them a hole punch on their card. You could then reward them after their whole card is punched. Click the image below to grab your own ‘Caught Being Responsible’ punch cards!

Responsibility Curriculum

The Responsibility SEL Curriculum includes 5 lessons and many activities that teach children about responsibility, goal setting, conflict resolution, and anti-bullying.

mind+heart Social Emotional Learning Curriculum

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Teaching Respect in the Classroom

February 7, 2018 By Proud to be Primary 1 Comment

Teaching respect in the classroom is a task that teachers must do almost daily. There are many ways educators can tie these social skills lessons into daily tasks. Here are a number of ways to teach children what respect means and how to be respectful in the classroom and beyond.

Teaching Respect in the Classroom

Teaching respect in the classroom helps students succeed. When children are able to treat each other respectfully and respond to direction and instruction in a positive way, they are more likely to succeed in academics. Distractions and behavioral disruptions are lessened. Communication lines open and are more relaxed. This makes for a more conducive learning environment. Try the following ideas to encourage respectfulness.

Teach What Respect Actually Means

Explicit Teaching: Teach kids what respect is. Define it for them and with them. Brainstorm as a class what respect looks like, sounds like, and feels like. Give them the vocabulary needed to express respect.
Vocabulary Sort: Write words and actions describing respect and disrespect on cards. Have children sort them into categories: “Respectful” versus “Disrespectful.”
Teach the “Golden Rule.” Most children learn this term in their families. You can bring this familiarity into the classroom. Define the “Golden Rule” and read books about it such as The Golden Rule by Ilene Cooper and Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller. You can post a sign in the classroom as a visual reminder. Grab this poster for FREE below!
Draw & Write: A simple activity is to have children draw or write what respect means to them. Have them share it with the class or in small groups.

Provide Opportunities to Show Respect

Scenario Cards: Respect is something that has to be seen and experienced to understand. Role-playing with scenario cards can help. With the cards, kids act out behaviors associated with treating others with respect. Discuss if it demonstrated respect and offer suggestions if it didn’t.

Acts of Service: Children can learn a great deal from serving others. Putting the needs of others first is one way to show respect. Participating in a community clean-up project, helping out with younger students (reading buddies), or volunteering in another classroom to help clean tables are all ways to work as a class to serve others and show respect.
Personal connections: Give children the opportunity to share about ways in which they show respect every day. Perhaps writing about ways they are respectful will help them realize that they can and do! You can give them a “respect hat” and let them draw or write their ideas on it.

Encourage Honesty

Discussion and Understanding: Discuss what honesty means and what happens when one lies. Help children to understand how honesty is an important part of being respectful. Try reading Lying Up a Storm by Julia Cook.
Games: Playing games in small groups or as a class helps students to be honest and forthright with others. They must follow specific rules, giving them the opportunity to choose to be a respectful player or to cheat and be disrespectful. Games can bring about wonderful learning opportunities and discussion.
Draw & Write: It’s always beneficial for kids to have a written or artistically expressed representation of what they’ve learned. Try having children write or draw about ways they are honest at home and school.
Tower or Trust: Honesty breeds trust. Talks about what trust is and build a “tower of trust” using blocks. This activity creates a powerful visual for children. Practice building and taking blocks down as you give positive and negative examples of honesty. What does it take to knock it down (break someone’s trust) and what does it take to build it up (develop trustworthiness)?

Express Gratitude

Define and Describe: Children need to have a good understanding of the concept of gratitude in order to be respectful to others. Take time to discuss what gratitude means. Brainstorm things they are thankful for and have children draw and write about them. The Thankful Book by Todd Parr is a great book to help in this.
Share: During classroom meetings or times of discussion, ask children to share when they felt grateful for something. Expressing their gratitude verbally and listening to others share what they are thankful for will help them form a habit of being grateful.
Thankful Jar: Set out a special jar or container in your classroom in which children can place notes or reminders of things they are grateful for. The “Thankful Jar” can be a positive reminder to them of the good things they have, and help them to express gratitude to others. You can periodically read them aloud.

Thank You Letters: Show children how to write a letter of thanks to someone who has done something for them. This is another good way to get children to practice the habit of being grateful and expressing gratitude as an extension of respect.
The Gratitude Game: Games are a great way to practice skills. Thankfulness is practiced in the Gratitude Game – where a child gives an example of something they are thankful for based on what color of snap cube they randomly pick.

Gratitude Journal: Give students a place to write down the many things they are thankful for. This is a great practice in life, as there are even adults who enjoy writing a gratitude journal daily. It’s a practice that encourages a positive attitude and contentment. Grab a FREE gratitude journal below!
Gratitude Wall: Dedicate a wall or a bulletin board in your classroom to decorate with notes and words depicting gratitude.The visual reminder will be a great way to lead discussion and encourage thankfulness at any time.

Appreciate Differences

Discuss Equality: With your class, you can address the fact that everyone deserves to receive respect, despite differences. To lead a discussion on this topic, these books are helping: Whoever You Are by Mem Fox and Good People Everywhere by Lynea Gillen.
Classroom Puzzle: One way to express differences and acceptance of them is to create a class puzzle. Each child decorates a piece of the puzzle according to his/her interests and individuality. While piecing it together, explain to the children that like the puzzle pieces, “we fit together” as well.
Self Portraits: Give children some time to brainstorm ways they are unique by drawing (or writing). Let them compare and contrast their similarities and differences with a peer. Read The Crayon Box That Talked by Shane Derolf and have kids decorate a crayon with a self-portrait and personal facts about them. Use these to display on a classroom bulletin board.

When learning about respect, honesty, gratitude, and appreciating differences are important topics to cover. Teaching respect in the classroom is not always a simple task. But when you cover all the topics above, you can begin to see a marked improvement in respectfulness all around.

Resources for Teaching Respect

Free Gratitude Journal

Encourage children to express gratitude through words and pictures with a gratitude journal. Click the image below to download the FREE gratitude journal templates.

Free Respect Poster

Teach children what respect really means by learning the “Golden Rule” together. Post the poster or have children color their own to hang. Click the image below to download the FREE respect poster.

Respect Curriculum

The Respect SEL Curriculum includes 5 lessons and many activities that teach children about respect, acceptance, honesty, and gratitude.

mind+heart Social Emotional Learning Curriculum

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Self-Regulation and Self-Control Books and Videos for the Classroom

January 2, 2018 By Proud to be Primary Leave a Comment

How do you teach kids self-regulation and self-control strategies? In order for children to develop socially and emotionally, you must address these two skills. Sometimes simply sharing a good book or video on the subject is the easiest way! This post includes books and videos you can use in your classroom to teach self-management. [Read more…]

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Teaching Friendship Skills in the Classroom

Teaching Children about Emotions in the Classroom

Emotions Books and Videos for the Classroom

January 2, 2018 By Proud to be Primary Leave a Comment

Dealing with children’s emotions is a hot topic among teachers in elementary schools today. Teachers need to think about how to teach children to recognize and describe emotions, express them, and control them. Explicit lessons about emotions can help children learn healthy social-emotional skills. Here are 15 books and videos about emotions that you can share with your class.

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Teaching Friendship Skills in the Classroom

Teaching Children about Emotions in the Classroom

Growth Mindset Books and Videos for the Classroom

January 2, 2018 By Proud to be Primary Leave a Comment

Children benefit from lessons that include real-life, relatable concepts such as how to deal with frustrations, interpersonal conflict, and failure. Developing a growth mindset is an important trait to cultivate in your students. These 15 books and videos will help you teach growth mindset in your classroom.

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Teaching Friendship Skills in the Classroom

Teaching Children about Emotions in the Classroom

Teaching Empathy in the Classroom

November 19, 2017 By Proud to be Primary 1 Comment

It is not uncommon to find a lack of empathy in our children’s interactions. Most have experienced a world of self-preservation and independence that makes empathy unnatural or difficult to express. There are ways you can go about teaching empathy in the classroom to meet those children’s needs and help them become more socially aware. [Read more…]

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Teaching Kids to Self-Regulate in the Classroom

September 28, 2017 By Proud to be Primary Leave a Comment

We often need resources and ideas for those students in our classrooms who haven’t yet learned certain social and emotional skills. Students especially need help with self-regulating their emotions and managing their behavior. As teachers, we can step in and give them the tools and resources necessary for social and emotional success and development.

Kindness Books and Videos for the Classroom

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Teaching Friendship Skills in the Classroom

Teaching Children about Emotions in the Classroom

September 1, 2017 By Proud to be Primary 1 Comment

Social emotional learning is a key component in teaching young children. You’ll likely find that a good part of your day is spent educating your classroom students about how to recognize, manage and express healthy emotions and feelings. Below are engaging ways to teach children about emotions in the classroom.

Teach Children about Emotions in the Classroom

Why do students need help learning how to express healthy emotions and feelings?

Many students learn healthy emotional habits and ways of expressing their feelings at home, in their interactions with their family and friends. Children tend to pick these things up naturally by watching how others respond and mimicking their behavior. Many are active in their churches, community centers, sports, and hobbies, in which they learn how to interact with friends and neighbors.

But what about the students who don’t have such opportunities?

It’s up to us, as educators, to model, teach, and encourage them to practice healthy emotional responses to everyday situations and events! Helping children to express their feelings and handle difficult situations with calm is our ultimate goal.

1. Teach Students about Identifying Different Emotions

Children should be taught the language necessary to label and identify the different emotions they may experience. We need to let them know that feeling different emotion is normal. By giving them the vocabulary needed to describe how they’re feeling, you are encouraging them to express themselves productively.

Recognizing Facial Expressions and Body Language: Children need to learn how to identify their own emotions, as well as others. One way to do this is by learning to pay attention to their own body signals, such as a frown and queasy stomach when nervous, or balled fists and tight shoulders when angry. Once they can recognize it in themselves, they can pick up on facial expressions and body language of others and then learn to react accordingly. In your morning meetings, perhaps spend five minutes modeling and discussing different emotional states.
Clip Chart: One way to encourage recognition of feelings is to provide a visual reference for them to use. A clip chart helps students to recognize and identify how they are feeling. They simply place a clip on the chart in the space that shows how they are feeling.

Play Games: One fun way to introduce, teach, and practice the names of emotions is to play an engaging game with students, such as these emoji card games, matching games, and board game.

2. Teach Students about the Healthy Expression of Emotions

We all feel the full range of emotions. Wherever they are on the happy or sad, engaged or bored, proud or embarrassed, ends of the spectrum, we can help them express those emotions in a safe and healthy way. The classroom is a great place to learn and practice!

“I Feel…” Statements: To learn how to express their feelings appropriately, students need to be taught how to use “I feel…” statements. Instead of screaming insults at another child who broke his crayon, little Johnny can say “I feel sad that you broke my crayon”, opening up the communication between the two students. This allows for healthy conflict resolution.
Coping with Extreme Emotions: Sometimes we must step in and help kids deal with the emotional roller coasters they sometimes find themselves on. Their extreme emotions get out of control and they need help finding their way back to calmness. We must realize that addressing the whole brain is key to understanding how to help them best.
Teaching Emotional Rights: It’s important for children to understand and assert their rights when it comes to emotions. This helps them maintain healthy boundaries with their friends and peers, and be respectful to teachers and adults.

3. Connect Experiences with Emotions

Children learn to embrace their emotional state by realizing that it is normal and ok to feel the way they do. It’s our job to give them opportunities to label their feelings correctly. Emotional memory is strong! We can harness that power by helping students connect their experiences in the classroom with their emotions. By recognizing and acknowledging their feelings during a learning activity or classroom event, we can increase the chances of it sticking in our students’ long-term memory.

Journaling: Encouraging students to journal about their feelings is helpful. They express their feelings through writing about learning tasks, field trips, or school events. We often use this learning method in our classrooms for improving handwriting, spelling, vocabulary, and of course writing skills.
Emotion Sort: Have students sort pictures of children with experiencing different emotions. They will gain practice recognizing facial expressions and body language and therefore, feel more confident understanding their own and others feelings.

4. Teach Students about Brain Biology

The human brain is a fascinating subject, even for the youngest learners. Teach them what the parts of the brain are called, and talk about how different parts of the brain controls their emotions and feelings.

Brain Craftivity: Try this fun craft activity that teaches children about the parts of the brain that control the emotions.

Upstairs and Downstairs: To try to explain how the parts of our brain work together, and how the emotions part can sometimes take over, try explaining it in terms they can understand, such as the “upstairs and downstairs.”

5. Encourage Students to have a Positive Mindset

Self-talk and self-motivation skills that are positive and encouraging will help your students succeed, and create a more positive classroom environment overall. You can teach them ways to feel good and focus on positivity. Here are ways to influence them to have a good attitude at school.

Create a Vision Board: Vision boards are used in all types of professions, from business to graphic design. They can be used in the classroom too! Help children visualize what they desire and what makes them happy. When they have an image in their mind of what makes them thrive, they are more likely to reach their own goals, and ultimately succeed in the classroom.

My Heart Map: This creative activity encourages children to thoughtfully consider what makes them happy and depict it on paper. It’s a great way to help them own and recognize their emotions and focus more on having a positive outlook.

Teach Growth Mindset: Any lesson about emotions and feelings can easily be integrated into a growth mindset curriculum plan. The two go together like peas and carrots!

Resources for Teaching Emotions

Emotions SEL Unit

The Emotions: Social Emotional Learning Unit includes 5 detailed, research-based lessons. It is filled with hands-on and mindful activities that teach children how about how their brain controls their emotions, how to identify and express how they are feeling, and ways to encourage a positive mindset.