NCJ Number
160386
Date Published
1991
Length
83 pages
Annotation
This manual guides teachers in instructing students in grades 3-4 in the skills of creative communication, active listening, fighting fair, critical thinking, decisionmaking, mediation, and cooperation.
Abstract
The goals of the lessons are to assist students in building self-esteem, respecting human differences, developing positive interpersonal skills, learning ways to handle frustration and anger, understanding the causes of conflict, and practicing conflict-resolution strategies. Each "teacher's page" contains an introduction that presents the concept of the lesson with an activity and questions. A section on "materials" describes what is needed to implement the lesson, and a section on "vocabulary" introduces new words to the students. A "discussion" section offers students the opportunity to interact with one another, reassess their own values and perceptions, and build on basic concepts. A section called the "student page" provides directions on how to introduce this page to students. The "journal" section offers students the opportunity to express their feelings about themselves and their experiences. The section on "closure" identifies the focusing concept of each lesson within a unified framework for students. The concepts build, one by one, toward an overall understanding of the skills of conflict resolution. In the section on "additional activities," activities are presented to reinforce the concepts. The teaching techniques described include brainstorming, role playing, problem-solving, "I-Care" listening, and "I-Care" language. Other teaching techniques are body movement, visualization, mediation, and the integration of conflict resolution concepts. A 56-item annotated bibliography