Resolving Conflicts on the Playground: A Guide for Teachers

Tutorial 1

Scenario: Angelo was referred to the counselor’s office because, according to his teacher, “He cannot keep his hands to himself.” In meeting with the teacher, the counselor discovered that this phrase was meant to convey the fact that Angelo often uses his index finger to poke the student sitting in front of him in the back. The teacher has talked to Angelo about this behavior and has given him detentions but nothing to date has worked. 

 Assume you are the counselor working with this student. Fill up the ABC behavior form below imagining a typical day in Angelo’s classroom. 

Tutorial 3

Plan a daily schedule for a group of young children in a full-day primary program. Justify the rationale for your schedule using information from lesson 8, Planning Programs That Prevent Discipline Problems. 

Tutorial 4

Mariyam comes to you complaining, because another child is using the swing that she wants to swing.

Describe a common ineffective response. 

Describe the reflective listening response.

Discuss how you feel when someone tries to tell you, how to fix your problem instead of listening to your concerns and feelings. 

Tutorial 5

Marie and Aiden are playing in the block area with four other children. Marie backs up and accidentally knocks over Aiden’s block construction. Aiden is yelling at Marie and threatening to knock down what Marie built. 

Marie and Aiden are playing in the block area 

Describe how this problem might have been prevented. 

After the aggressive student cools down, talk with him privately. Although he might expect you to react punitively, surprise him by reacting supportively. Express your confidence that he can resolve problems without being hurtful to his peers. Tell him that you think he must be upset about something to lose control as he did and you want to understand what might be bothering him. If he does open up to you, listen attentively without interrupting. Speaking in a calm voice, tell him that you understand why he was upset, but stress that he has to find a way to express his anger with words rather than with his hands

Describe the type’s guidance that might help the girls solve their problems. 

Describe how might use consequences to guide the children towards a respectful resolution to their problem.