Peer Mediation
School-based peer mediation is one of the most popular and effective approaches to integrating the practice of conflict resolution into schools. From the start of the modern “conflict resolution in education” (CRE) movement in the early 1980’s, peer mediation has been one of its centerpieces. Many thousands of schools in the US and in dozens of other countries have implemented peer mediation programs, and these efforts serve almost every conceivable student population.
Peer mediation teaches mediation skills to students so they can help mediate disputes that other students are having—hence the label, “peer mediation.”
The convergence of a number of factors help to explain peer mediation’s status:
* Increasingly, educators—in rural and suburban as well as in city schools—were troubled by an increase in the amount and the tenor of student conflict. There consequently was a burgeoning interest among educators to explore this issue.
* The mission of most schools includes helping young people develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will enable them to succeed as adults. One of the most essential sets of skills is the ability to resolve conflicts effectively.
* Peer mediation encourages students to apply conflict resolution skills when it matters most—when they are in dispute. This sets it apart from other conflict resolution models that lack a formal effort to encourage students to use their skills when they are actually involved in a conflict.
For more information on developing Peer Mediation as a model in your school, please visit Day 2 of our curriculum on Managing and Resolving Conflicts Effectively in Schools and Classrooms. To hear an interview with a middle school peer mediation coordinator and a student mediator, check out this episode of Peace Talks Radio.
Related Videos of Possible Interest
- Don’t Give In to the Drama - Peer Mediation Training Video from Hawaii
- In the Mix: Peer Mediation—A Process of Respect
- LA Peer Mediation Program Video
- Models of Peer Mediation Reviewed
- On-the-Spot Mediation: how to use your skills in everyday life
Related Catalog Resources
Below you'll find a randomized listing of up to 20 related items (we may have more...) drawn from our Resource Catalog.
| Resource Title | Description | Links |
|---|---|---|
| Conflict resolution education and Social emotional learning programs: A critical comparison | Pdf document that compares and contrasts Social and emotional learning programs to Conflict resolution education, with bibliography. Written above title on document: NCIP (National Curriculum Integration Project). | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| M.O.V.E.: Mind over violence everywhere | 88-page PDF manual developed to provide learning materials on violence prevention for youth with low literacy skills. The objectives of M.O.V.E. are to: Increase awareness of violence and develop skills to prevent violence, increase literacy through non-traditional learning activities, encourage youth to participate actively and assist the...(see more) | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Schools conflict resolution and mediation competition: Manual | 27-page pdf manual for SCRAM a, "Year 9 & 10 interactive role play program which encourages the development of mediation skills in secondary school students. The mediation is based on fictitious community based scenario. A team of 6-8 students is given background information on an issue which is causing conflict among 4 participants. The team uses...(see more) | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Conflict management | 12-page pdf document, intended for adults working in school settings, which examines the process of mediation for conflict resolution, includes sample peer mediation journal. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| SCORE coordinator's manual, 2007-2008: Student conflict resolution experts | 183-page pdf manual which "provides an overview of the program, and instructs coordinators on the steps to setting up the program from start to finish, and the methods and expectations for training their mediators. The manual also provides an extensive lesson plan for training, as well as sample exercises and role-play scenarios." | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| 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...(see more) | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| 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. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| In the mix lesson plan: A primer on peer mediation | Web resource "designed to introduce students to the process of mediation. If Peer Mediation is an ongoing program at your school, this lesson can be used to inform students of what they can expect if they choose to solve a problem through mediation. It can also be used to encourage students to train to become mediators. If Peer Mediation is new to...(see more) | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| 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...(see more) | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Building for the future: Connecting up with high school mediation program alumni | Pdf article from Conflict Management in Higher Education Report, (Volume 1, Number 1, Jan/Feb 2000), which puts a call out to people and organizations interested in helping to build a national networking system for high school mediation program alumni as they continue their eduacation often at colleges and universities with no mediation programs. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| 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. During the invitational, students...(see more) | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Helping Children Resolve Peer Conflict | Vol 15, Issue 1 of School-Age Connections provides 4-page pdf reviewing research and concepts for understanding children's peer conflicts. Includes 8-step model for assisting children in resolving their conflicts. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Kids Working It Out Resource Appendix | A listing of books, publications and websites provided in the appendix to Tricia S. Jones and Randy O. Compton (Eds.) 2003 book Kids Working It Out: Stories and Strategies for Making Peace in Our Schools. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Peer mediation training for schools: Best practice guidelines (UK) | 8-page Word document which presents best practice guidelines developed by the Peer Mediation Network in the UK. Paper begins with a definition of peer mediation and then outlines best practices for many aspects of training. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| School conflict management resource guide for grades K-8, 3rd ed., Fall 2002 | Pdf document of 1107 pages exploring school conflict management resources for K-8 graders, with introduction, table of contents, a for teachers section, eight academic subject sections containing hundreds of age-appropriate lessons, a section-specific table of contents within each academic subject section and a references section. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| 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...(see more) | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| World of CRE | Powerpoint presentation examining peer mediation. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| School conflict management resource guide for grades 7-12, 3rd ed., Fall 2002 | Pdf document of 987 pages exploring school conflict management resources for 7-12 graders, with introduction, table of contents, a for teachers section, eight academic subject sections containing hundreds of age-appropriate lessons, a section-specific table of contents within each academic subject section and a references section. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| 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. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Peer mediator training: Student workbook | 27-page pdf student workbook for peer mediation training. This is the high-quality version designed for printing. Discusses topics such as communication skills, conflict resolution and mediation procedures (with role play exercises), and agreement writing. Intended for use as part of a 1-day peer mediation training. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
