Managing Conflicts in the Classroom

How Do You Manage Conflicts Between Students in Your Classroom or School?

Well, below is one of our "Classroom Strategies” taken from the Carrie Flower Curriculum.  All of the items in the graphic above are included in our Classroom Garden Kit.  Our Classroom strategies are intended to be implemented throughout the school year.

This classroom strategy will assist classroom teachers to manage everyday interpersonal conflicts among students. The incorporation of positive strategies for behavior management, such as conflict resolution and management education, can significantly reduce the time teachers devote to managing unacceptable behaviors.

Procedure:

1. Set up a space in your classroom for conflict resolution called the “Promise Patch.”

2. Position the “Promise Flower” on the floor in the “Promise Patch.

3. Follow the following steps:

a. Student #1 provides Student #2 with an invitation to the Promise Patch.

b. Each student should select a feeling flower, based on how they are feeling.

c. The students involved in the conflict, place their feeling flower on the edge of a petal on the mat across from each other.

d. All students take a step forward onto the “Breathe” space, take a few deep breaths, and chill out.

e. Students then move to the Why? space. They indicate why they chose the specific emotion flower and are provided an opportunity to explain their side of the specific conflict.

f. Student #2 listens to Student #1 speak and tells Student #1 what he/she heard her or him say.

g. Repeat the process with Student #2.

h. Each student then steps forward to the solution space and provides his/her idea of what can be done to solve the conflict.

i.    Keep trying until the students find a solution that both parties believe will work.

j. Upon resolution, all students step forward into the “Promise” space. Here they promise each other to agree to the solution and move forward.

k. Report the solution to the teacher. (Teacher may choose to be present until it is determined students are capable of solving disputes independently.)

I hope you like this classroom strategy.  We would be happy to discuss our program with you.  Just contact us at helllo@carrieflower.com!

We would also be interested to hear any ideas you have to manage conflicts in your classroom.  We would love to share them on our blog so other teachers and students can benefit.