"I think it's good to remember to stay calm."
The third and fourth graders have just completed nine sessions of peer mediation training. During the training, we explored these topics - what are conflicts, how anger affects our body, what are anger triggers, the anger mountain (what happens when you keep the anger in), restating what someone has said and reflecting on their feelings, and using "I statements." During role play, we practiced our skills as peer mediators and helped those who were having a disagreement to find solutions. I am excited that so many of our children have signed up to help as peer mediators during their lunch recess!
The children also shared reflections of their training and what they felt was important to remember about peer mediation.
"I think it is important to remember to stay calm because if you are not calm, then you can get the other people really mad and angry."
"I think peer mediation can help our school by making people happy again."
"I think it is important to remember to help people and to keep doing community service. If you don't help people and don't do community service, you would not be known as a good person or a helpful person. You should remember that everyone counts to make a community."
"It is important to remember that peer mediation can keep people happy and friendly, and not angry."
"I think peer mediation helps the school by having less problems."
"Peer mediation helps by solving problems. This matters because without peace it would be horrible. It would be chaos."
"I think peer mediation could help our community by solving problems so the world could be a better place."
Please ask your third or fourth grader about their peer mediation training and to also help them practice their skills at home. If you would like to know more about our peer mediation program, please call or email me. I'd be more than happy to share about our program.
Shirley Rivera
CE/Counseling
