But how then should we define engagement? In their article at the web site PLoS ONE, Boulton et al. define engagement as “the active commitment and purposeful effort expended by students towards all aspects of their learning, including both formal and informal activities (2019).” Please note the key…
Purpose The business of learning takes place in our heads and doesn’t always show up on formal assessments. To know where each student in your class is both academically and socially, you need regular one-on-one contact. One-to-one conferences are a…
Purpose Think It Through is a process in which students spend some quiet time reflecting and self-talking their way through a problem before they attempt to jointly craft a solution that works for everyone involved. Breaking It Down When students…
Purpose In any confl ict, the goal is to fi nd a win-win solution, but this can only happen when both parties are clear about their feelings, calm enough to actively listen to one another, and have the skills to…
Purpose Problem Solving—Our Part gives students a way to peacefully resolve confl icts by helping them negotiate and implement win-win solutions. Before the students can participate in the Problem Solving—Our Part process, they must complete the steps to Problem Solving—My…
Purpose Confl ict resolution is a complex process, particularly if students have one way of coping with problems at home and another at school. Problem Solving—My Part is the fi rst step in a structured process that helps students resolve…
Purpose In any conflict, it is important that the people involved understand one another’s thoughts and feelings. “I” Messages are a way for a person to communicate clearly, but without insults, blames, or threats, how he or she feels about…
Purpose When people become angry, emotions can get in the way of peaceful conflict resolution. Cool-down strategies are ways for students to bring their emotions under control before getting into trouble or causing harm to anyone or anything. With their…
Purpose Research shows that when we give students explicit strategies for dealing with conflict—strategies that bring an otherwise invisible process to the surface—we help them internalize healthy models of conflict resolution. Students who have already mastered Talk It Out can…
The obvious solution isn’t always the easiest. For example, one of the most effective ways to reduce classroom confl ict is simply to keep all the students engaged. If confl ict is a problem in your class, you might want…