Conflict

How to Handle Current Conflict

1. Recognize the problem that is causing you to lose your self-control.
2. Identify your feelings (anger, fear, sadness, etc.).
3. Decide what happened to make you feel that way.
4. Journal the situation once you are at home, on the bus, or outside of class. DO NOT write notes in your class! Focus on your academics/instruction. (You may write a few words down in your notebook to assist you in your journal writing exercises later).
5. Focus on positive outcomes. (What you can accomplish by ignoring minor behavior, making positive friendships, focusing on academics vs. drama).
6. Strive for self-control. Stay cool. (Take a “time out,” count to ten, breathe deeply)
7. Accept situations you cannot change and remember you cannot change other people! You can only change the way you respond to a situation!
8. Inform the teacher about a problem (not a minor annoyance) as soon as it happens. Do not wait and write long notes to administration or other teachers.
9. Remember you do not have to be friends with everyone, but you must be respectful to everyone. Do not break school rules or you will encounter consequences.
10. Focus on YOU, not SOMEONE ELSE.

What NOT to Do…

1. Say disrespectful, hurtful or inappropriate things to others
2. Write notes during classroom instruction
3. Cause disruption in the hallways, auditorium, cafeteria or classrooms because of conflict with others
4. Engage in social relationships with peers who have caused you repeated problems in the past (in other words, don’t do the same thing over and over and expect different results)
5. Threaten others with physical violence or engage in fights
6. Contribute to behavior that disrupts the learning environment