Communication Category
Communication skills are at the very core of conflict resolution. Students can develop a set of integrated skills that serve them well in a range of settings, and teachers benefit as well. We’re working on a set of online learning modules to visitors explore key concepts related to communication and conflict. Modules available for use now include those listed below. All of these can be uploaded into a course management system like Blackboard or Moodle to be used as assignments, or can be browsed online. Check our regularly updated list of learning modules for the latest additions.
Understanding Soft versus Firm Limits
Interpersonal Skills: Communicating Respect vs Disrepect
Here’s a screenshot from the Soft vs Firm Limits module:
Communication Skills
These links provide details on key skills related to communication needed by conflict-competent students and teachers.
- Adjusting to Cultural Differences
- I-Statements
- Listening for Feelings
- Nonaggressive Communication
- Open v. Closed Questions
- Paraphrasing
- Perception Checking
- Reading Non-verbal Behaviors
- Recognizing Non-verbal triggers
- Sending Non-verbal Behaviors
- Summarizing
- Supporting and Encouraging Messages
- Using Neutral Language
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 negotiation skills for youth | 186-page PDF training manual on Conflict Negotiation Skills for Youth. The manual is directed at government and nongovernmental organization personnel working with young people. It presents a variety of participatory training methods and exercises. Users are encouraged to refine and adapt the materials. The contents are organized as follows:...(see more) | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Communication for competency | Word document exploring nonverbal and verbal communication with emphasis on direct and indirect language, with exercises. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Conflict resolution and peer mediation, volume II: Elementary school guide | 52-page pdf guide used to teach conflict resolution and peer mediation in elementary schools. Includes 10 lesson plans covering topics such as "dealing with feelings," "building self-esteem," "exploring the issue of stereotypes" and "introducing peer mediation to students." Includes bibliography. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Setting up a dialogue session | One page diagram of the steps involved in setting up a dialogue session. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Inter-agency peace education programme: Skills for constructive living: Overview of the programme | 46-page pdf document which provides an overview "of the components of the Peace Education Programme and the implementation structure of the programme. It is designed for education managers of ministries dealing with both formal and non-formal education and from agencies who may be implementing education activities on behalf of the government ......(see more) | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Teaching presence | Pdf document offering guidance for teachers to be present in the moment and teach with an open heart, "good teaching comes from the identity and integrity of the teacher." Written above title on document: NCIP (National Curriculum Integration Project). | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Lessons from literature: Classroom manual for English literature teachers | 40-page PDF manual which provides "the framework for [teachers] to use the books and stories you’re already teaching to increase awareness about the damaging effects of physical, sexual and verbal abuse. Designed to integrate easily into your existing literature curriculum, the program empowers you with resources that help your students build...(see more) | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Opening the door to nonviolence: Peace education manual for primary school children | Electronic version of the second edition of a teacher's guide for teaching peace education to primary school students. "Part I is designed as a training in affirmation, cooperation and communication. Part II deals with the healing of trauma; Part III is about bias and prejudices. Part IV introduces peaceful problem solving and nonviolent conflict...(see more) | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Pre-Service School Administrator Curriculum | A 179-page pdf document containing a five module curriculum designed to enable administrators to examine conflict and better understand the process of conflict management. It serves as a companion curriculum to the Center for the Prevention of School Violence's "Reach In, Reach Out, Reach Over Conflict Management Curriculum" and provides...(see more) | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Positive approaches to discipline scenario | Web-based interactive scenario which "demonstrates the differences between positive discipline and punishment. Discipline techniques focus on what we want the child to learn and what the child is capable of learning. Punishment, on the other hand, focuses on misbehavior and may do little or nothing to help a child behave better in the future. The...(see more) | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Interpersonal skills for dealing with conflict: Respect and support in action | Powerpoint presentation introducing interpersonal skills proven successful in dealing with conflict. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Practicing peace: A peace education module for standards 4 through 6 in Solomon Islands | 87-page word document which presents peace education for the Solomon Islands context. "The primary method used in peace education is generally referred to as a "facilitated" or "interactive" model of teaching. In this method, the teacher becomes a facilitator of learning and a co-learner with the students. Students and teachers use experiential...(see more) | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Issues under the hat | Web-based interactive resource which presents a scenario that "will weigh a school policy in this case disallowing students to wear hats in the classroom against good reasons why in some situations a hat could be allowable. At one point during the scenario, [the participant] will be asked to choose of three available options that might lead to a...(see more) | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| How to talk so kids will listen & listen so kids will talk | Document summarizing Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish's work of the same title, with instructions to increase listening skills, help children deal with feelings, provide praise and use alternatives to punishment, with role playing exercises. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Building community and combating hate: Lessons from the middle school classroom | 65-page pdf document which, "includes a set of ten lessons for middle school educators or youth service professionals to use within their existing curriculum. The lessons reinforce concepts discussed throughout the Partners Against Hate publication Program Activity Guide: Helping Youth Resist Bias and Hate, 2nd edition. The lessons explore the...(see more) | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| What can students and youth do to lend a hand | Pdf document with advice to students and youth on bullying prevention. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Ten Lessons for Teaching Conflict Resolution Skills | A teaching packet provided by the Fairfax County Public Schools and the Student Safety and Wellness Office consisting of 10 lessons designed to help students learn conflict resolution skills. Each activity takes about an hour to complete and is designed to be interactive. As the authors note: "These skills are important for many reasons. Not only...(see more) | 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 |
| Civil Discourse in the Classrooom | This 23-page pdf curriculum "will introduce educators to basic tools for teaching civil discourse. It is not subject-specific; on the contrary, the tools of argumentation and discussion lend themselves to any subject in any classroom. Although it is primarily designed for young adolescents, the curriculum can be adapted for students of any age." | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
| Flirting or hurting | Pdf document presents a classroom activity to help define and give examples of flirting and sexual harassment. | Catalog Listing Direct Link to Resource View in Browser |
