Conflict Stoppers

Purpose
Conflict stoppers are actions that students can take to prevent common classroom
conflicts or to keep an existing confl ict from getting out of hand. They are a critical part
of the formal Problem Solving—My Part process, in which students take time to cool
down and think about the problem and possible solutions. Confl ict stoppers can also be
used as informal classroom reminders whenever a squabble arises.

Breaking It Down
There are many ways to head off the kinds of daily
conflicts your students might experience in the classroom,
hallway, lunchroom, or play area.

A list of possible conflict stoppers includes:
1. Share
2. Take turns
3. Apologize
4. Ignore
5. Make amends
6. Compromise
7. Laugh it off
8. Flip a coin
9. Wait until later
10. Get help
11. Talk it out

■ Display a poster or printed list of these conflict stoppers for
the students to consult when they have a disagreement.

■ When small conflicts arise, the students should fi rst try
one or more of the options on the list. This may avert the
need for a more formal intervention process like Problem
Solving—My Part.

Fine-Tuning the Technique

■ The more the students practice these options, the more they will internalize them.
Consistently use the language of conflict stoppers in your classroom and school.
Keep the list posted in your classroom, or make sheets available to the students
or teams, and refer the students to this resource as needed. (See the Roadblocks
section also.)

■ Instead of getting drawn into simple conflicts, ask the students involved whether
they have tried any conflict stoppers. If not, have them consult the list to see if any
of the options is a viable solution. Initially, you may need to help walk them through
each of the possibilities.

■ Publicly praise the students for using these strategies on their own and for averting
any need to go through the Problem Solving—My Part and Our Part process.

■ This is only a starter list of conflict stoppers. Periodically help the students
brainstorm some conflict stoppers of their own, and encourage the students to talk
to one another about their favorite strategies. By listening to others, children might
discover new options that they would never have thought of on their own.