Conflict Resolution and Caring techniques in Character Education

 by Jannyce Y. Omueti

This lesson was created as a part of the SMART website and is hosted by the Illinois Institute of Technology

Quotation

"You know that the beginning is the most important part of any work, especially in the case of a young and tender thing; for that is the time at which the character is being formed, and the desired impression is more readily taken. Shall we just carelessly allow children to hear any casual tales which may be devised by casual persons, and to receive into their minds ideas for the most part the very opposite of those which we should wish them to have when they are grown up?

We cannot. Anything received into the mind at that age is likely to become indelible and unalterable; and therefore it is most important that the tales which the young first hear should be models of virtuous thoughts.

Then will our youth dwell in a land of health, amid fair sights and sounds, and receive the good in everything; and beauty, the effluence of fair works, shall flow into the eye and ear, like a health-giving breeze from a purer region, and insensibly draw the soul from the earliest years into likeness and sympathy with the beauty of reason.

There can be no nobler training than that."

Plato's Republic

Conflict Resolution and Mediation
These projects focus on teaching conflict resolution and mediation skills, believing that bias will be reduced the same way that other conflicts are settled. They deal with prejudice as just one cause of conflict among many. While traditional mediation helps both sides get something they want in the settlement, these projects will not let a settlement include the continuation of behavior based on bias, because they are committed to social justice as well as to meeting the needs of the people in conflict.

• reference:  http://www.joyinlearning.com/
• reference  http://www.rigby.com/
• reference:  www.charactereducation.com

Objectives

1.       To help the student be aware of the quality of caring in people; develop caring individuals.
2.       To help students develop their concept of caring.
3.       To help students discover that caring for others will benefit all and have widespread impact.
4.       To emphasize that caring should be shown towards people you know as well as to those you  don't know. 
5.       To help students be aware of different ways caring can be expressed.
6.       To help students learn to advocate caring laws.

FOCUS: 

             To implement a caring model that emphasizes five core values: respect, trust, responsibility,
             family and caring.

References:

• http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_81.htm
• http://www.character.org

This second reference actually gives programs started in other states to create safe schools through
character education.  Caring reduces conflict thereby breaking the cycle of violence in schools. 

      CLASS EXTENSION   

ACTIVITIES:  

• Strategies for Empowering Students
  http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/ce/strat-index.html
  "These activities will challenge students' mind, empower their senses of well-being and rekindle their hearts with a commitment
  to values and beliefs essential to becoming and being whole individuals."
  
• Role Models on the Web
    http://www.rolemodel.net/
  This will showcase outstanding role models to help youths and young adults to pattern their lives"   
  
• Kids Helping Kids
  http://www.unicef.org/media/media_36407.html.
  
• Department of Justice: Kids and Youth
  http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/eousa/kidspage/
  This will teach kids about different aspects of justice and ways to stop harmful acts.

ONLINE ACTIVITIES

• Character Building Site
  http://www.foundationsmag.com/links.html
  
• The Book of Virtues
  http://pbskids.org/adventures/
  
• Kids Who Care
  http://www.kidscare.org/
  This shows what great things kids do to help their community.  Read their stories.

IMPROVING YOUR CHARACTER

• Do You Want Better Grades?
  http://www.uen.org/utahlink/tours/tourFames.cgi?tour_id=13289
  
• Get to Know Yourself!
  http://www.uen.org/utahlink/tours/tourFames.cgi?tour_id=13293
  
• Prevention Yellow Pages
  http://www.tjjd.texas.gov/
  
• "Worldwide directory of programs, research, references and resources dedicated to the prevention
  of youth problems and the promotion  of nurturing children.

  LESSON PLANS

•  Character Education Lesson
  http://www.goodcharacter.com/
  Cultural/Social Diversity Appreciation and Understanding Activities
  
• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/arthur/teachers/activities/culturalsocial.html
   These are class activities from PBS Arthur:  Teacher's Corner
  
  • Elementary Lesson Plan Ideas
    http://www.uen.org/utahlink/activities/view_activity.cgi?activity_id=5399

CHARACTER EDUCATION INFORMATION

•  Character Education Program
  http://www.projectwisdom.com/
   "Read about one character education program.  Each month they focused on one of the 7 values: courage, loyalty, justice, respect, hope, honesty and love."
  
•  I CARE Resource
  http://www.uen.org/utahlink/activities/view_activity.cgi?activity_id=5399
   You will find ideas and activities that are useful for implementing an I CARE program.
• Life coaching for kids
  http://www.lifeinsurancequote.net/life-coaching-for-kids/

•  Community of Caring
    http://communityofcaring.org/
   "Community of Caring works to implement and encourage five values--caring , responsibility, 
   respect, trust and  family--in our nation's schools.
  
•  Resolving Conflict Creatively
    http://www.esrnational.org/
   "The Resolving Conflict Creatively Program (RCCP) National Center is dedicated to 
  educating young people in intercultural understanding and creative nonviolent approaches to conflict.

Many of the activities and links were selected from Character Education Resources written by
Karen Krier.

Caring people develop caring individuals.  When people care for each other conflict can be drastically reduced.

ACTIVITIES

•  Students can be divided into groups/teams and they should be asked to develop a list of 
    ways that reflect caring about their family and friends.  The groups will later share their lists.  
    The teacher should encourage them to discuss how their actions showing caring.  This 
    procedure can also be done with caring about their school and community. 

• It is important to help the students see that the person who acts in a caring manner also benefits
  and contributes to the greater good.  Questions to ask to help them think of this concept are:
1.  Is there a benefit to me when acting in a caring manner toward others in my family, school, community? 
2. What are the benefits?

Students can pledge to initiate one of the actions they develop.  They can write their pledge on the pledge form below

CARING PLEDGE

To show that I care about my family, 

school, and community  

 I,                                                                                                           pledge 

to do the following:

1. _______________________________________________________________
   

2. _______________________________________________________________
   

3. _______________________________________________________________
   

4. _______________________________________________________________
   

5. _______________________________________________________________
   

          These forms can be put on display in the classroom and revisited on a weekly basis to keep the value contact in their lives.

  Being sensitive to caring behaviors

• Students can create "How to ...." instruction manuals that describe how to use the following topics. 

• How to care for a friend who is going through a difficult situation.

• How to care for an older family member, neighbor, or friend, who lives alone.

• How to care for yourself when you have a bad cold.

• How to care for your neighbors and neighborhood.

• How to care for a classmate who is having a hard time with other kids at school.

• How to care for __________________________________. 

  Help the students list as many synonyms for caring as they can.  Ask the students to list as many words that are associated with caring as they can.

  Have the students:

•   create endings for the phrase, "Caring is .........."

•   create a "Care" calendar for one month.  Write thoughtful or caring tip for each day of the month.

•   create a poster with the theme.  HOW TO CARE FOR SOMEONE'S FEELINGS.

•   make a list of 10 things that you could do to be a more caring  person and 10 things not to do. 

           The Graphic below can be given to students to complete.  It can be displayed in the classroom

WANTED !

ONE CARING FRIEND!