Index


Orientation to Life and Careers

Mary Sue Burkhardt

Child Care with a Future
Eleanor Keppler

Preventing Teen Dating Violence
John A. King

Conflict Resolution
Jean Pryzbylkowski

Southwestern Food Factory
Becky Newell

On the Bridge
Roxanne Trees

Conflict Resolution


Created by: Jean Pryzbylkowski

Curriculum Content

A Review of the Unit

Getting to Know You -- Our first lessons help to create a safe, supportive classroom environment.  Rules are developed, including no put-downs, and the characteristics and concerns of early adolescence are examined.  

What is Conflict? -- Conflict is presented as a natural and unavoidable part of daily life that can be used as an opportunity for growth and learning.  The goal is to learn how to deal creatively with conflict.  Students complete an assessment tool to identify their response to conflict and their conflict style.   A post assessment is used at the end of the unit to evaluate any changes.

Communication Skills -- Identifying and practicing effective listening skills, and speaking concisely are the focus of the lessons.  Non-listening habits are identified and the role of body language in communication is explored.  The effect of perception on conflict and communication is examined.   Paraphrasing, I-messages, and reflective listening are practiced.  Communicating with parents is also addressed and students explore the concepts of Parent, Child and Adult messages.                

Emotions and Feelings -- Students identify and learn to manage emotions, especially anger, and recognize that mood swings and a variety of different emotions are typical of the early adolescent years. 

Problem Solving Skills -- Students learn strategies for resolving conflicts, including a problem-solving model, and are guided to a Win-Win philosophy which will provide longer lasting resolutions.

Mediation Skills -- Newly trained mediators demonstrate their skills and answer questions about the mediation process, and encourage classmates to use mediation when they can’t work out a problem.

Performance Assessment -- As a final project, students are given the task of identifying a situation in their lives that could be improved, and applying the new skills learned in class.  A written report that includes a description of the problem, the usual attitude and behavior, the skill used to change the situation, the length of time the new response was tried, and a reflective paragraph on the results is used to measure understanding of the concepts.

 Another dimension to the program was added to the Helping Others unit.  Students designed and taught a lesson on conflict resolution to younger children in a nearby elementary school.  Three seventh grade classes were each matched with a third grade class.  The students selected a theme for the lesson, wrote skits and designed posters and visuals, rehearsed, and finally presented their lesson.  Both groups of students enjoyed the interaction, and the third graders wanted to know when we were coming back.

Conflict Resolution/Getting Along with Others
Unit Overview and Sample Lesson Plan

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