I'm using a really cute story with my K-3 students called, A Bug and a Wish by Karen Scheuer. In this story, one little boy learns how to use the phrase "It BUGS me when you ___________, I WISH you would ____________." I talk with my students after reading the book about the importance to talking to others when there is a problem vs. letting the problem stew and get worse. Sometimes people don't realize they've upset them, or that what they do bothers them. That's why they have to talk about it! We go through several examples of problems they may have with others and put it into the phrase above. After I feel they've got it, they get a coloring page or a small bookmark to color with a lady bug on it.
For my older ones, I'm doing a similar lesson, but they are learning about "I messages," which I like to think of as more grown up version of "A Bug and a Wish." In the PowerPoint you can find on my TPT store, there are three videos from the Olive Branch where to cartoon characters have a conflict. We talk about how they resolved to conflict and what other options they could have tried. We also practice using I messages, which are elaborated on in the PowerPoint. My older students have a HUGE problem talking to each other about problems. They'd rather let it simmer and explode later, or talk to everyone else not involved. I've been working with several about changing that and I'm hoping these lessons help reinforce the importance of talking to each other to all of them!What lessons and materials do you use for conflict resolution? I'd love to hear some new ideas!
