Hughes Elementary Soaring to Success

How we teach students to Resolve Conflict

There is a specific sequence of steps that should be used when two students become involved in conflict.

Step 1:  Both students agree to the ground rules.

“I agree not to interrupt, not to call a name, and I agree to work to solve the conflict.”

Step 2:  One student tells his or her side of the story using I-messages, saying how he or she feels about what happened, and what he or she wants.  The other person listens attentively and restates the problem.

Step 3:  The second person restates what the problem is for the first person.  Start with “So, the problem for you is…”

Step 4:  Steps two and three are repeated, with the second student speaking.

Step 5:  Both people suggest possible solutions.

Step 6:  Both work to agree on a solution that is:

·      specific

·      balanced - both people will be responsible for making it work

·      realistic - and will solve the problem.

Tribes is a step-by-step process to achieve specific learning goals. Four agreements are honored:

• attentive listening
• appreciation/no put downs
• mutual respect, and
• the right to pass

Students learn a set of collaborative skills so they can work well together in long-term groups (tribes). The focus is on how to:

• help each other work on tasks
• set goals and solve problems
• monitor and assess progress
• celebrate achievements.