Students will use conflict management skills with peers and adults. Career Development Students will use conflict management skills with peers and adults.

Understanding Conflict What is it? Prolonged fighting. Disharmony between incompatible or antithetical persons, ideas, or interests. It is something we deal with in our lives. Conflict can be good or bad.

How do we help students understand conflict? Create a list of what conflict means. Share with class. Create a list of positive and negative conflicts. Make sure students understand what positive and negative means. Point out that conflict itself is neither good or bad, but just a part of life. It is how we react to conflict that makes good or bad.

Types of Conflict School based conflicts (teachers) Conflicts with friends Conflicts with family members

Causes of Conflict Conflicts over things, objects, or possessions. Conflicts over opinions or what one believes. Conflicts over needs we have.

Knowing Oneself in Times of Conflict Important to know ones own feelings. Thoughts, feelings, and body messages are triggers. If we know them then we know we need to do something else before we react inappropriately. We need to know what sets us off to deal with conflict.

Conflict Triggers What led me to “fight” or almost fight? (Think conflict) How was I feeling or thinking before the conflict began? What could I have done to prevent the conflict?

Negotiation There needs to be ground rules (such as not interrupting, rumors, or unwillingness to come up with a solution). Listen to each other’s side. Brainstorm solutions to the problem. Come up with a solution that both parties agree upon.

References The American Heritage Dictionary. Dell Publishing. New York (1992). Whittmer, J.,Thompson, D., & Loesch, L. (2000). Classroom Guidance Activities. Minneapolis: Educational Media Corportion.