Conflict Resolution & Diversity Programs
Resolving Conflict Creatively Program | 4Rs
Program | Early
Childhood | | PAZ After-School
Resolving
Conflict Creatively Program
Every school
day, in public schools throughout New York City, young people are learning
better ways to deal with conflict and cultural differences through Morningside
Center's Resolving Conflict Creatively Program. The program was co-founded
by Morningside Center (then ESR Metro) and the New York City Board of
Education in 1985.
The program
uses engaging, interactive techniques to teach children skills in:
- communication
- anger
management
- negotiation
- mediation
- cooperation
- intercultural
understanding
- standing
up to bias
A two-year
study of the program by Columbia University researchers found that children
receiving substantial instruction in the program from their classroom
teachers developed more positively than their peers: They saw their
social world in a less hostile way, saw violence as an unacceptable
option, and chose nonviolent ways to resolve conflict. They also scored
higher on standardized tests in reading and math.
The components
of Resolving Conflict Creatively include:
- 3-5 day
introductory training course to prepare teachers to implement the
curriculum
- regular
classroom instruction based on a K-12 curriculum
- classroom
coaching of teachers by expert consultants
- peer mediation
programs
- training
for school administrators and parents
Each year,
Resolving Conflict Creatively provides professional development for
about 1,000 teachers, classroom instruction in conflict resolution and
intercultural understanding for over 11,000 children; peer mediation
and youth leadership programs in some 50 elementary schools and high
schools; and "Peace in the Family" parent training in a range
of participating schools.
For more
information, please contact Lillian Castro, Morningside's Director of
Administration, at lcastro@morningsidecenter.org.
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The
4Rs Program (Reading, Writing, Respect & Resolution)
Morningside
Center's 4Rs Program integrates conflict resolution into the language
arts curriculum for grades K-5.
Through the
program, we train and support teachers in implementing the 4Rs curriculum,
which uses high-quality children's literature as a springboard for helping
students gain skills and understanding in the areas of community-building,
handling anger, listening, assertiveness, cooperation, negotiation,
mediation, celebrating differences, and countering bias.
The thrust
of the 4Rs is creating a caring classroom community. Each grade, K-5,
has its own teaching guide with seven units:
- Building
community
- Dealing
with feelings
- Becoming
a better listener
- Learning
to be assertive
- Dealing
well with conflict
- Celebrating
diversity & countering prejudice
- Making
a difference
Each unit
is based on a children's book, carefully chosen for its high literary
quality and relevance to the theme. (For a list of the books, please
click here.) All of the units have two parts.
Book Talk suggests activities - discussion, writing, and roleplay -
for deepening students' understanding of the book and connecting it
to their lives. Applied Learning consists of conflict resolution lessons
related to the theme.
By highlighting
universal themes of conflict, feelings, relationships, and community,
the 4Rs curriculum adds meaning and depth to literacy instruction. Since
reading and writing are excellent tools for exploring conflict, feelings,
and problem-solving, the 4Rs approach enriches conflict resolution instruction
as well.
The 4Rs includes
a parent component, Parent-Child Connections, which consists of activities
children do with their parents at home. Each activity sheet includes
a summary of the book used in the unit, a related activity for the parent
(or other adult) and the child to do together, and suggestions for further
activities related to the book and the theme.
Said one
4Rs teacher: "I notice that with time, my students are showing
each other that they care. They are starting to be less competitive
and more considerate. That's a lot of change in just a few months. And
it is measurable."
For more
information on 4Rs, please contact Tom Roderick, Executive Director
of Morningside Center, at troderick@morningsidecenter.org.
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Early
Childhood Adventures in Peacemaking
Research shows that early childhood is a critical time
for teaching children social and emotional skills. Through our Early
Childhood Adventures in Peacemaking Program, Morningside Center helps
pre-school educators teach these important life skills to young children.
Through the program and its special curriculum, early
childhood center staff and parents use puppet plays, songs, story-telling,
and other age-appropriate activities to teach children how to cooperate
with each other better, resolve conflicts peaceably, and handle their
anger. Children learn to see things through other people's eyes, be
more caring, and steer away from name-calling and prejudice.
Morningside Center has a long track record of teaching
young people and adults these skills. For the past 15 years, we have
collaborated with the New York City Department of Education to develop
and run one of the nation's most respected conflict resolution programs,
the Resolving Conflict Creatively Program, in NYC public schools (grades
K-12).
Early Childhood Adventures in Peacemaking has these
components:
- Introductory training. Preschool teachers receive
training to introduce them to Early Childhood Adventures in Peacemaking,
our activity guide for early childhood teachers, which has received
the Judges Award from the Association of Educational Publishers. Training
is tailored to the issues staff are facing in their classrooms.
- Site-based professional development. A staff developer
from makes regular visits to the preschool to coach teachers in implementing
the curriculum in their classrooms. Coaching includes co-planning
activities, observation, conferencing with staff, and demonstration
lessons. Teachers begin implementing the program on a daily basis.
- Parent training. Since parents play such a crucial
role in the life of a young child, the effectiveness of early childhood
education depends on parents reinforcing the school's efforts. We
offer parents site-based training and support in teaching their youngsters
social and emotional skills.
For more information about Morningside Center's Early
Childhood Adventures in Peacemaking Program, please contact: Lillian
Castro, Morningside Center, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 550; New York,
NY 10115; tel: 212-870-3318 x33; fax: 212-870-2464; email: lcastro@morningside.org.
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PAZ
After-School Program @ P.S. 24
The PAZ After-School Program (Peace from A to Z) provides
instruction in conflict resolution, cooperative games and sports, and
homework help for some 400 children at Brooklyn's P.S. 24. The program
operates from 3 to 6 pm every school day. PAZ was launched in September
1999 by Morningside Center and P.S. 24 with funding from The
After-School Corporation.
PAZ is the product of a shared commitment by P.S. 24
and Morningside
Centerto educating youngsters' hearts as
well as their minds. In addition to providing academic support and physical
education instruction, PAZ helps children learn to:
- communicate better
- identify and express feelings
- manage anger
- handle conflicts nonviolently
- cooperate with peers
- respect differences
- stand up to bias
In addition to our ongoing work with PAZ, Morningside
Center also provides training and support to other after-school programs
around New York City that want to integrate conflict resolution into
their work with youngsters.
For more information on PAZ, please contact Morningside's
PAZ Coordinator Josh Nugent at paz.ps24@gmail.com.
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Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility
475 Riverside Drive, Suite 550
New York, New York 10115
212.870.3318 | fax: 212.870.2464
info@morningsidecenter.org
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