MY CART
In my early years teaching 3rd grade I was distraught to realize how much of my time went into mediation among pairs or small groups of children. I cared deeply about teaching social responsibility, but I knew these kids could be more independent in resolving conflicts, and even had the sense that my presence was, in many instances, just keeping an argument going that otherwise would peter out or find closure on its own. When we met as a group for various “community meetings” the children could talk a great game, articulating excellent strategies for working through the day-to-day rubs that are inevitable. Yet when “in the moment,” most arguing or hurt children promptly forgot what they knew intellectually and became emotional, sulky, or even spiteful. I also found myself asking the same kinds of questions (“What did you hope would happen?” and “What would you like this person to know?” among others).
With the help of my first two classes, I designed a classroom system that scaffolds the process of resolving a conflict, with minimal teacher involvement. Kids love it because they feel empowered to solve conflicts alone and teachers love it because they are suddenly free to attend to other parts of the curriculum, or to focus on the key issues of the social world of children, those that are behind the daily squabbles.
You will receive the Conflict Resolution sheets that are at the core of the program, along with a description of how the sheets fit into a larger system. This system is rather simple (requiring only a couple of full group meetings to understand), can be implemented at any point in the year, and has been so effective for me and other teachers I’ve known. I’m confident you and your students will appreciate the system’s value.
Keywords:
classroom management
character education
bickering
arguing
social
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TEACHING EXPERIENCE
I've taught at a wonderful and well-known progressive Manhattan school, City & Country School, for 16 years, 5 as a 3rd/4th grade classroom teacher and 11 more as School Librarian/ Reading Teacher. The curriculum is driven by a strong emphasis on social studies and hands-on, student-directed learning. Throughout this time I've also done some administrative work managing the team of specials teachers and overseeing the team sports program (I love to coach almost as much as I love to teach!). Teachers at City&Country are constantly creating curriculum because the program is so responsive to the student. I taught all subjects and generated and revised material of incredible variety: social studies trips; process math and writing; the implementation of a student-run post office; building a native american longhouse; book groups; basketball practices... even juggling! I have my masters in elementary education from Bank Street College, another progressive institution. In the summers I tutor in reading and math, and run my own basketball clinic for young children.
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