A 5-page article on peer mediation written for principals. It appeared in the magazine Principal Leadership as part of a monthly column entitled “Counseling 101” that is written by members of the National Association of School Psychologists. Includes a case study exploring the need for improved referral system for a peer mediation program.
Archive
Truancy Mediation Program in Marion, Ohio
This video is a short documentary about the Truancy Prevention Through Mediation Program in place in Marion, Ohio. The Truancy Prevention Through Mediation Program brings students, parents, and school officials to the table with a mediator to deal with problems of truancy and find creative solutions without resorting to court action. The video was produced by The Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management.
Beginning with the Children – A guide to creating a Peace Helpers program, grades K-2
This 73-page guide presents a field-tested, step-by-step process schools can use to train and support young students (K-2) in serving as “peace helpers†in their classrooms. After training sessions to develop their skills in listening, handling feelings, and mediating conflicts, they help their teacher establish a peace corner. Upon request they are available to work in the peace corner, listening to a student who is upset or helping two classmates talk out a conflict.
Chapter 1 of the guide describes the Peace Helpers Program at P.S. 24 in Brooklyn, NY, to provide a vision of what’s possible. Chapter 2 describes the ingredients for a successful program and a process a school planning team can use to decide whether now is the time for a Peace Helpers Program at their school. Chapters 3, 4, and 5 describe the steps for establishing and sustaining the program, including detailed agendas for workshop sessions to train the peace helpers. The Appendix has handouts for the peace helpers’ training and other aids for implementing the program.
Peer Mediation Student Handbook – Mediator Mentors
58 page mediation training manual in .doc format used to train peer mediators working at the elementary school level. Used as part of the Mediator Mentor program at California State University Fresno. The program is a university-public school partnership in which future teachers, counselors, social workers and school psychologists support the development of conflict resolution skills in school children. Teachers and students in the public schools receive eight to 10 hours of communication and conflict resolution training and university students coach and mentor at lunch periods. More than 5,000 children and teachers have participated in the program as of Spring 2010.
Introducing cooperation and conflict resolution into schools: A systems approach
29-page PDF chapter in the 2001 publication: Peace, conflict and violence: Peace psychology for the 21st Century by D.J. Christie, R.V. Wagner and D.A. Winter. The chapter argues the fundamental importance of a systemic approace to peace and conflict resolution education. The authors discuss five levels of “school systems through which one can introduce cooperation and conflict resolution concepts, skills, and processes: Level 1, the student disciplinary system; Level 2, the curriculum; Level 3, pedagogy; and Level 4, the school culture and Level 5, the community—will enhance the view of the school system as an “open system†embedded in a larger communal system which can aid in the sustainability of school system change.”
Don’t Give In to the Drama – Peer Mediation Training Video from Hawaii
In August of 2009 Mediation Services of Maui premiered a new video supporting peer mediation program development. In “Don’t Give In to the Drama,” Maui High School students provide a step-by-step demonstration of mediation with peers. Encouraging commentary is provided by two young narrators explaining key aspects of the process. The video was written and directed by Kim Compoc, Mediation Services of Maui’s youth director, and produced at Maui High. The video is reality based, both in its attention to Hawaii culture and in using situations that the students came up with through brainstorming about their own experiences and observations. It has been posted to YouTube (broken into 4 parts) and will be distributed via DVD to high schools in Maui.
In the Mix: Peer Mediation — A Process of Respect
Short clip from a longer video developed for the PBS In the Mix program on “School Violence – Answers from the Inside.” Shows a successful mediation result in a high school setting. If you visit the show site, look for the “Show Clips” link to see more video clips from the program.
PROS: Peaceful resolutions for Oklahoma [high school] students: Student edition
46-page PDF high school student manual designed to teach peer-mediation techniques as well as communication skills, leadership and problem solving.
PROS: Peaceful resolution for Oklahoma [high school] students
106-page PDF manual designed to help teachers and trainers teach high school students the art of peer mediation. Includes definitions, exercises to improve communication skills, leadership and problem solving.
PROS: Peaceful resolutions for Oklahoma [elementary] students: Student edition
46-page PDF (student edition) manual which introduces elementary school students to peer mediation and conflict and teaches communication and problem solving skills.
PROS: Peaceful resolutions for Oklahoma [elementary] students: School-based peer mediation curric
83-page PDF manual which helps teachers and trainers introduce elementary school students to peer mediation and conflict and teach communication and problem solving skills.
Incorporating restorative approaches
82-page PDF topic guide which presents a, “session plan, guidance and resources for training day focusing on incorporating restorative approaches. Aims to develop an understanding of restorative approaches and their role in behaviour and attendance improvement. The aim is also [to] develop an understanding of the leadership issues in incorporating restorative approaches and explore how restorative approaches might be developed in [one’s] own setting.” Also available is a related set of 12 slides in ppt format for use in training event.
Conflict resolution, peer mediation and young people’s relationships: Technical Report
74-page PDF technical report that investigated, “what schools could do to improve young people’s relationships with each other, with teachers and with their families. This is a key question for schools, policy-makers and pressure groups; there are currently programmes and initiatives on behaviour, citizenship, healthy schools and many other areas which have relationships at their core. Within that broad area, the team looked in more detail at school programmes that encourage conflict resolution and peer mediation.” Ten studies relating to conflict resolution, all completed after 1994, were reviewed in detail.
Building bridges in conflict areas: Educational report
23-page PDF report in which, “the reader is invited for an overview of the methods, theories and tools that were offered to the participants. It shows how the process of theoretical presentation becomes “alive” when participants interact with trainers and share their opinions through brainstorming or reflecting on the concepts that were discussed for a better understanding of conflict resolution … Theoretical inputs, practical exercises, thematic energizers and interactive activities created suitable atmosphere to raise awareness among participants, deepen their knowledge and raise their skills and abilities in pro-active interventions in youth field of conflict zones. Mainly during the two last days of the training course, participants were involved in partnership building activities.”
Peer Mediation Invitational Coaching Information from WJC
This web page provides sample materials used to host a Peer Mediation Invitational Event. The Western Justice Center Peer Mediation Invitational is an annual event and an opportunity to increase and deepen nonviolence and conflict resolution training for students who serve as peer mediators on their campuses.Ê During the invitational, students from all over Los Angeles County participate in demonstration sessions where they take on the role of disputing parties as well as the role of mediator, managing each state of the mediation from welcoming the parties to writing the agreement. Attorneys, judges, professional mediators and peers provide feedback and coaching so the students’ skills can be recognized and improved.