Ideas for Creating a Comprehensive School
Conflict Management Program
The following examples were taken from Ohio public schools that have received a school conflict management grant and training from the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management and the Ohio Department of Education. These are just a sample of various ways that schools can help build their comprehensive school conflict management programs and it will be updated periodically. Many of the ideas overlap under a number of categories but are only listed once. The fiscal year that the school received the grant and implemented the various programming and ideas is noted after the schools name.
School Culture
Pedagogy
Curriculum
Students
School Culture
The school incorporated a word of the month relating to conflict management terms. The student council prepares posters relating to the specific word and students are encouraged to incorporate positive strategies related to conflict management. All the staff is aware of the word of the month and this word is displayed in the classrooms. The staff use this word and teach lessons related to it. Teachers also use appropriate behaviors and actions to students outside of class and as situations arise in the building. Lutz Elementary School - Fremont, OH (FY 03)
Conflict Management is part of the school's Continuous Improvement Plan. A sub-committee is looking at ways to improve teacher-student and student-student relationships. Mansfield High School - Mansfield, OH (FY03)
After a Peace assembly at the beginning of the year, all students signed a "Peace Pledge". All of the pledge cards are displayed in the cafeteria. Annehurst Elementary School - Westerville, OH (FY 03)
All seventeen teachers assigned to Jersey Elementary School, as well as the gym teacher and the librarian have been given the steps to solve conflicts. The staff have been encouraged to use the steps with the students at recess or in the classroom if a conflict occurs. The steps are posted in the classrooms, lunchroom, and hallways. Jersey Elementary School - Pataskala, OH (FY 03)
The daily morning announcements feature conflict management mini-lessons. B.L. Miller Elementary School - Sebring, OH (FY 03)
School pride and sense of school community were fostered through a "Cardinals Caring Community" program, through which students and teachers were encouraged to use "the three C's of Caring: Co-operation, Consideration, and Communication." Artemus Ward School - Cleveland, OH (FY 01)
Red ribbon week, observed by the entire school, encouraged both conflict resolution and drug use prevention. Students participated through presentations using poetry and posters. Bookmarks, outlining the steps to fighting fair, were distributed to all students. Barnesville Middle School- Barnesville, OH (FY 01)
Randallwood School brought in the Bridgework Theatre to perform a play entitled "Night and Day." The play focused on having empathy towards others and dealing with anger.
Randallwood School- Warrensville Heights, OH (FY 01)
This school conducts a Peace Week dedicated to promoting and celebrating peace and conflict resolution. Poster contest, entries are peace-themed. Buckeye North Middle school-Brilliant, OH (FY 00)
This school celebrates "Conflict Resolution Week," in which a full week is dedicated to teaching students about the program and what benefits it can serve to themselves and others. Lincoln Elementary-Hamilton, OH (FY 00)
This school replaced Halloween celebrations with "Personal Heritage Day" allowed students to participate in cultural activities and involved parents as well. Bennett Elementary School- Youngstown, OH (FY 01)
This school collaborated with the Ohio Arts Council's Cultural Suitcase Project and a yearlong focus on cultural diversity helped Bennett Elementary develop a positive school environment. Bennett Elementary School- Youngstown, OH (FY 01)
School administration holds frequent "Fireside Chats" with student body to discuss and address school climate issues. Port Clinton Junior High School-Port Clinton, OH (FY 00)
All students recite a peace pledge every morning. Tecumseh Elementary School-Xenia, OH (FY 00)
Discipline:
The school uses school conflict management guidelines for their school wide discipline plan. In this plan are many tenets of school conflict management philosophies which led to a heavier focus on discipline verses punishment. Olde Orchard Elementary School - Columbus, OH (FY 03)
Copies of all of the discipline related school conflict management resource guide materials have been given to all of the teachers. Loveland Middle School - Loveland, OH (FY 03)
Conneaut High School uses conflict management tools in their in-school suspension class to help students evaluate some of their negative behavior. Conneaut High School - Conneaut, OH (FY 02)
Students and parents are given the opportunity to participate in a conflict management related program in lieu of suspension. Westland High School-Columbus, OH (FY 00)
Playground Aids:
This school designed a "conflict bridge" which was installed on the playground to help resolve conflicts at recess. Hillsdale Elementary School-Hayesville, OH (FY00)
Parents/Community:
Harrison Elementary School sends home a flyer with information about the conflict management topics being covered in the classrooms along with ideas for supporting what the children have learned. Community members are the team leaders for one of their youth programs called Young Ladies/Young Gentlemen and were trained at the beginning of the year in conflict management. Harrison Elementary School - Lakewood, OH (FY 03)
The parents were invited to "partner" in efforts to teach conflict management at the beginning of the year. A form has been sent home each month and the parents are asked to write notes about appropriate ways a student solved a conflict. These forms are read in the classrooms to the other students and the child is recognized for their successful effort. At a recent parent meeting, the parents were also invited to work with the staff to teach conflict management to their children. Jersey Elementary School - Pataskala, OH (FY 03)
The staff have presented information on their conflict management program to their Parent-Teacher-Student Association. Heskett Middle School - Bedford, OH (FY 03)
The conflict management word of the month is shared with parents in the monthly newsletter. The word is shared in the newsletter as well as what the children will be learning around that topic. They encourage parents to discuss the word and help their children better understand appropriate ways to deal with conflict. Lutz Elementary School, Fremont, OH (FY 03)
An interactive parent training in conflict management allowed parents to brainstorm and share ideas on how to implement "40 Assets." - Allensville Elementary School - McArthur, OH (FY 02)
Mason brought in a speaker to talk to both parents and students. The parent session focused on strategies for successfully living with and raising a teenager. Mason High School - Mason, OH (FY 02)
In order to foster parent participation and community awareness, the grant team at Oakdale School organized a Peace Party at a local community center. Parents, along with members of the local Boys and Girls Club, were invited to attend the party. The party included an overview of conflict management, activities and demonstrations on conflict management topics. Oakdale School - Barberton, OH (FY 02)
Health classes use conflict management activities in their parent dialogue night and local police officers spend a day in class discussing conflict management. Arbor Hills Jr. High School- Sylvania, OH (FY 01)
East Middle School sponsored a Family Fun Night with activities for parents, students and interested community members. Part of the evening's events was a mini-workshop on conflict resolution. East Middle School- Warren, OH (FY 01)
Annual "Peaceful Night Out," provides conflict management training for parents and families. Carl F. Shuler Middle School-Cleveland, OH (FY 00)
Parents are involved with the conflict management program through open meetings with the staff and are updated through a newsletter. Hawthorne Elementary-Columbus, OH (FY00)
North Central High School holds open meetings for parents and community members to explain their conflict resolution program and its benefits. Skills are shared with those in attendance in hopes that their practices will be used in the community if the need arises. North Central Local School System-Pioneer, OH (FY 00)
Publicity/Awareness:
Problem solving posters are located in every room, in the hallways, and in the lunchroom. The first grade classrooms all have "I-message" posters. The second grade classrooms all have posters with the peace wheels on them which provide the methods for resolving conflicts nonviolently. Normandy - Bay Village, OH (FY 03)
A group of students modeled a conflict management lesson in front of the Board of Education. Hopewell Loudon Local School District - Bascom, OH (FY 03)
Students in the 1st- 5th grades designed peace posters around slogans created by the conflict management team. Winners were chosen in various categories including "most creative" and "best use of theme." Students' posters were displayed around the school. Oakdale Elementary School - Barberton, OH (FY 02)
This school used informative and entertaining speakers, skits by student, and announcements by student council members to inform teachers and students about conflict resolution. Crestview Middle School- Columbiana, OH (FY 01)
James A. Garfield Middle School developed a web site dedicated to conflict resolution. Students can view the site during their computer class or at home with their parents. James A. Garfield Middle School- Garrettsville, OH (FY 01)
Lakota created a conflict management newsletter for their staff. The newsletter contained information about Lakota East's conflict management goals and articles on conflict resolution. Lakota East High School- Liberty Township, OH (FY 01)
This school created a web page that includes resources related to the conflict management grant, activities that are being implemented this year at Canfield Village Middle School. http://cmsserv.canfield.k12.oh.us/jv/
Canfield Village Middle School-Canfield, OH (FY 00)
This school holds weekly meetings for parents, students, faculty and community members to update them on the conflict resolution program and other events. Colebrook Elementary-Orwell, OH (FY 00)
This school created a "peace pole" display outside their school. Elida Elementary-Elida, OH (FY 00)
Each classroom in this school has a conflict resolution poster on display for reference. Faircrest Memorial Middle School-Canton, OH (FY00)
All students were involved with the upstart of the peer mediation program by creating posters related to peace and displaying them in the halls. Fairfield Middle/ High Schools-Leesburg, OH (FY 00)
A"Word of the Week" is displayed in halls relating to peace and/or conflict management at this school. Morrison Elementary-Dayton, OH (FY 00)
This school has a "Word of the Week" relating to peace and/or conflict management. Hawthorne Elementary-Columbus, OH (FY00)
Purchased "peace flags" for hallways and each classroom to promote a peaceful atmosphere. Pleasant Run Elementary-Cincinnati, OH (FY 00)
Welcoming new students:
Staff at East Sparta worked collaboratively with students to establish a program to help new students adjust to their new school environment. Students and staff worked together to develop a packet of information to help new students acclimate to East Sparta. Also, current students paired up with incoming students for a week to help them in get to know others on the playground, during lunch, and in the classroom. East Sparta School - East Sparta, OH (FY 02)
In order to create a more welcoming environment for new students, Batavia Elementary has made improvements in their new student registration forms to include more detailed background information about each student. This helped teachers approach each new student with a greater understanding of their individual needs and capabilities. Batavia Elementary- Batavia, OH (FY 01)
Pedagogy
This school organized a summer retreat during which the eight core school conflict management team members from their school that were trained, helped train their fellow staff members in school conflict management. Whitewater Valley Elementary School - Harrison, OH (FY 03)
Bus drivers and educational aids were trained in conflict management by this school's assigned school conflict management trainer. Felicity Franklin Elementary and Middle School - Felicity, OH (FY 03)
All security staff, transportation department staff, and the district Administrative team in the Shaker Heights City School District have attended a one day workshop on school conflict management. Shaker Heights High School - Shaker Heights, OH (FY 03)
All bus drivers in the Federal Hocking School District were trained in school conflict management as well as instructional aides at Amesville Elementary School. Amesville Elementary School - Amesville, OH (FY 03)
Staff attended a training on "Discipline with Dignity" and "A Framework for Poverty". Those staff then reported back to their fellow staff members as to what might be applicable pieces for their school. The staff then purchased a copy of the book by Ruby Payne, A Framework for Poverty for all of the staff to read as a school-wide staff book study. Harrison Elementary School - Lakewood, OH (FY 03)
The conflict management team meets every month to review what conflict management skills, lessons, and activities have occurred over the month in the their school and what actions need to be reinforced or re-taught. At each of the staff meetings, a few minutes are taken to enable the staff to share formal or informal lessons that have worked. Sill Middle School - Cuyahoga Falls, OH (FY 03)
All staff at Buckeye West were trained in conflict management at an in-service before the school year began. Buckeye West Elementary School - Chartfield, OH (FY 02)
Horace Mann used some of their grant money to send ten staff to a workshop called "Classrooms that Work" that focused on using class meetings as a vehicle for reducing conflict and increasing learning outcomes. Horace Mann Middle School - Lakewood, OH (FY 02)
Manchester used some of their grant consultation time to train both staff and bus drivers in conflict management. Manchester Middle School - Akron, OH (FY 02)
A staff retreat, focused on team building and working together, helped to build the foundation for future conflict resolution efforts at Batavia High School. Batavia High School- Batavia, OH (FY 01)
The entire staff at Westlake Elementary School attended a two-day retreat in August 2000 to create a school-wide conflict management program centered around the theme T.A.R.G.E.T. which encourages each student to:
Try your Best
Active Listen
Respect Yourself and Others
Go For Your Goals
Express Your Feelings Appropriately
Think Before You Act
Westlake Elementary School, New Carlisle, OH (FY 00)
Classroom Management:
All educators have a conflict management corner ("Peace Place") in their classroom. Their core school conflict management team organized a school-wide assembly to explain and model "Peace Place" and other conflict management strategies. Annehurst Elementary School - Westerville, OH (FY 03)
Harrison Elementary School used their assigned school conflict management trainer to provide a workshop on ideas and strategies in dealing with severe behavioral incidents in the classroom. Harrison Elementary School - Lakewood, OH (FY 03)
Some classrooms established a "peace corner," a place where problem solving could take place. Students write down their feelings when dealing with a conflict and think of creative and positive ways to resolve it. Pleasant Run Elementary-Cincinnati, OH (FY 00)
Curriculum
Conflict management topics/skills are integrated into the following subject areas: guidance, health, language arts, social studies, math, reading, Science, and other subject areas such as art and music. Pike Delta York - Delta, OH (FY 03)
The school conflict management team has explained and modeled lessons for their fellow staff members during monthly staff meetings. Annehurst Elementary School - Westerville, OH (FY 03)
The counselor sponsored a Breakfast, Books & More Program before school in the library to showcase the materials on school conflict management that they had available for classroom use. She also set up a check out system complete with library cards for the teachers to be able to access the materials with their class. Medlar View Elementary School - Miamisburg, OH (FY 03)
Harrison Elementary School's counselor and counselor intern have taught topical lesson in each classroom every other month. The topics are based on the theme of the year, "Harrison Five: Respect and Thrive" which are Understanding Conflict, Sharing Feelings, Celebrating Diversity, Managing Anger and Solving Problems. Thus the theme and lessons taught for January and February were on Managing Anger, for March and April, Solving Problems, etc." More than 85% of the staff are integrating two or more lessons on a regular basis; all classrooms receive at least one lesson every month. Harrison Elementary School - Lakewood, OH (FY 03)
The school ordered the reading books that go along with each of the lessons in the school conflict management resource guides. They placed them in a folder with the lesson that correlates with that particular conflict management topic. This way the teacher will be able to immediately respond to the problem with little or no preparation. Fairland East - Fairland, OH (FY03)
Each morning the principal reviews conflict management related skills and provides a lesson on the announcement. Teachers are given a packet of materials dealing with a certain theme for the month which is used to explore the skills of conflict management. These lessons are reviewed at their monthly staff meetings. Lessons are taken from their school conflict management resources guides and provided during those meetings. Isham Elementary School - Wadsworth, OH (FY 03)
The guidance counselor helps support conflict management by distributing lessons to teachers and conducting monthly classroom lessons dealing with conflict resolution. Buckeye West Elementary School - Chartfield, OH (FY 02)
Langston Middle School used staff in-service time to familiarize themselves with the Commission's resource guides. Teachers broke down into groups to review sections of lessons and then presented the information they learned to the whole staff. Langston Middle School - Oberlin, OH (FY 02)
Teachers at Nathaniel Hawthorne are provided with at least one conflict management integration lesson at each monthly staff meeting. Teachers then have time to discuss ideas for implementing the lessons. Nathaniel Hawthorne Academy - Cleveland, OH (FY 02)
Rex Ralph used 12 staff development session hours provided through their grant, in the first three months of school, to address different topics in conflict resolution. In September the staff learned about how to conduct class meetings. In October, staff learned about non-violent, non-verbal listening and communication skills. In November staff learned about bullies, de-escalating conflict, and understanding conflict. Rex-Ralph Elementary School - Cincinnati, OH (FY 02)
The conflict management team at Wayne High School set up a six-hour seminar on managing conflict in working with children. Cafeteria workers, administration, secretaries, bus drivers and teachers comprised the attendees. Wayne High School - Huber Heights, OH (FY 02)
Staff training has encouraged over 70% of classroom teachers at Arbor Hills Jr. High to integrate conflict management strategies into their lesson plans and classroom strategy. Arbor Hills Jr. High School- Sylvania, OH (FY 01)
The guidance counselor at Westwood conducted bi-weekly lessons in each classroom on conflict management. The teachers were encouraged to participate in the lessons, as well as conduct follow-up lessons on the topics discussed. Westwood Elementary School- Novelty, OH (FY 01)
Students participate in monthly guidance lessons on topics centered around conflict management with the school psychologist. Teachers integrate lessons throughout the week. Westlake Elementary School, New Carlisle, OH (FY 00)
Integration of Conflict Resolution in specific subjects:
Conflict Management was integrated into their advisory periods for students in grades 5-8. Felicity-Franklin Elementary and Middle School - Felicity, OH (FY 03)
At B.L. Miller Elementary School, the entire physical education program is based on a team approach. Each team rates itself daily as to its level of functioning and a conflict resolution procedure is in place. The teacher does extensive instruction at the beginning of the year and the conflict resolution procedure is used twice daily. Thus the twice weekly physical education class that each student has is a reinforcement of all of the comments of conflict management. B.L. Miller Elementary School - Sebring, OH (FY 03)
The guidance department uses conflict management lessons during the students' homeroom periods. Heskett Middle School - Bedford, OH (FY 03)
Conflict management skills and topics are being integrated into the Continuous Quality Improvement classes, their advisor/advisee programs, and into their career/technical programs. Laurel Oaks Career Center - Wilmington, OH (FY 03)
Integrating conflict resolution skills in government classes, has provided students with practical applications for conflict resolution skills, especially in how it can relate to political debates. Bloom Caroll High School- Carroll, OH (FY 01)
Medina Career Center integrated conflict resolution skills into their Employability class. Medina County Career Center- Medina, OH (FY 01)
The physical education teacher at Rootstown Middle School incorporated conflict resolution skills into her lesson plans. Themes of her activities included: problem solving, working together, active listening, helping others, and understanding physical handicaps. Rootstown Middle School- Rootstown, OH (FY 01)
This school completed a unit on self-esteem in which posters were hung throughout the hallways. They linked emotions to self-esteem and the value of having a positive self-image. Audubon Middle School-Cleveland, OH (FY 00)
Monthly skill lessons in conflict management are taught to students by the principal, assistant principal, counselor and school psychologist. Falls-Lenox Primary School-Olmstead Falls, OH (FY00)
This school focuses on literature that deals with and shows the benefits of conflict management,
and the consequences fighting and avoidance can have. Morrison Elementary-Dayton, OH (FY 00)
Westland High School teaches conflict management concepts in the personal development/life skills courses. Westland High School - Columbus, OH (FY 00)
Conflict Resolution Classes:
The guidance counselor at B.L. Miller Elementary School teaches a 9 week class for fifth and sixth graders on the topics of conflict management such as problem solving. B.L. Miller Elementary School - Sebring, OH (FY 03)
Shaker Heights High School has an anger management group co-led by their guidance counselor and their security officer. Shaker Heights High School - Shaker Heights, OH (FY 03)
Manchester Middle School has conflict management classes every Friday for all 7th and 8th grade students to help students learn to deal with conflict and stress in their daily lives. Manchester Middle School - Akron, OH (FY 02)
Implementation of a conflict management class allowed students to participate in exercises dealing with everyday conflict. Barnesville Middle School- Barnesville, OH (FY 01)
At this school, an anger management group meets weekly within the school for those in need. East Middle School-Youngstown, OH (FY 00)
Accessibility of Resources:
Each department within the school has been given a binder of conflict management lessons which are most pertinent to their subject matter. Heskett Middle School - Bedford, OH (FY 03)
Cornell Heights Elementary School has a working library for staff from which the school conflict management curriculum resource guides can be checked out. Cornell Heights Elementary School - Dayton, OH (FY 03)
The counselor at Harrison Elementary School went through the resource guides and made packets of lessons for each teacher based on the courses they teach and the students abilities. Harrison Elementary School - Lakewood, OH (FY 03)
Students
Student Programming/Activities:
This school has started a Stop the Violence program for students and utilizes older students then go into lower grades to teach conflict management lessons. Ripley Union Lewis Huntington - Ripley, OH (FY 03)
Sill Middle School has a 6th grade transition min-camp a week before school starts which incorporates conflict management skills and themes throughout. Sill Middle School - Cuyahoga Falls, OH (FY 03)
This school has a Peace Club that recognizes students who use peaceful methods to resolve conflicts. Olde Orchard Elementary School - Columbus, OH (FY 03)
At Black Lane Elementary agendas, kept by students, are used as a way for students, teachers and parents to communicate more effectively. Teachers sent home color-coded behavior/success messages with the agendas and students were expected to share their agenda with their parents on a nightly basis. Black Lane Elementary School- Fairborn, OH (FY 01)
Sunbeam trained 25 conflict managers who met on a weekly basis to discuss conflict issues in the school. The managers also created a skit about conflict resolution, and the skit was performed for staff and parents as a way to introduce them to conflict management. Sunbeam School- Cleveland, OH (FY 01)
The Thespian Troop at Troy High School was employed to perform a series of skits relating to conflict resolution for freshman students. Troy High School- Troy, OH (FY 01)
This school developed a conflict management program where students view a film then examine the reasons for violence and some alternative solutions to acting in a violent manner. Students are then asked to complete a study guide on the movie, create a public service announcement about one of the incidents from the movie and how to stop the violence, finally a one-page essay and a creative portfolio about the project. Audubon Middle School-Cleveland, OH (FY 00)
Students created videos that dealt with conflict resolution and character education. The videos were later shown to the entire schools on the Channel One TVs. Faircrest Memorial Middle School-Canton, OH (FY00)
Adult/high school mentors are paired with at risk elementary/ junior high students to help with conflict management issues and to serve as a positive influence. Hopewell-Loudon-Bascom, OH (FY00)
Westland High School holds a 9th grade conflict management retreat. Westland High School - Columbus, OH (FY 00)
Group leaders for the Young Ladies/Young Gentlemen's Clubs have followed an itinerary of lessons based on the School conflict management resource guides. These lessons reinforce what the children are learning in their classrooms. Harrison Elementary School - Lakewood, OH (FY 03)
Positive Recognition:
Staff at Allensville Elementary established a POPS (Power of Polite Students) bulletin board that recognizes students for being polite. - Allensville Elementary School - McArthur, OH (FY 02)
A bulletin board was used to reward students who displayed good manners. Attica Elementary School- Attica, OH (FY 01)
Kirkmere Elementary rewards students and adults who model positive conflict resolution skills with a "Peacemaker of the Month" award and peacemakers luncheon. The peacemaker program also draws community support with local businesses donating gift certificates or coupons to the peacemakers. Kirkmere Elementary school- Youngstown, OH (FY 01)
This school provides rewards to motivate and encourage peaceful qualities in students: sticker chart to earn rewards, commendation by principal, lunch with a teacher. Alexander G. Bell Elementary School-Cleveland, OH (FY 00)
This school has a "Random Acts of Kindness" program to reward students for courtesy and respect of others. Elida Elementary-Elida, OH (FY 00)
Students are rewarded with "Gettysburg bucks" for showing responsibility and being respectful to others. Dollars can be traded in for prizes sold at the school store. Gettysburg Elementary-Gettysburg, OH (FY00)
Both schools recognize and reward students for acts of kindness, following their motto "Catch the Peace Bug." Iberia Elementary School-Iberia, OH & Johnsonville Elementary School-Shauck, OH (FY00)
Classes are involved in quarterly peace celebrations if enough "peace points" are earned. Tecumseh Elementary School-Xenia, OH (FY 00) |
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