Peaceful Playground

For many years now, our school has offered the opportunity to our grade 6 & 7 students to take on a leadership role in our school by volunteering for such things as lunch monitors, playground assistants, office assistant, recycling volunteers. We are planning on expanding this program by adding a peer mentoring component. We are also, as a school, in the process of trying to create a more peaceful playground where students are better able to solve conflicts. Again, we believe that a peer mentor program at our school would be beneficial for all students.

Update (May 7, 2012)

In March 2012, we started the training for our Peer Mentors. We met 6 times during lunch and learned about:
- who we are - team building
- the characteristics of peer mentors
- problem solving steps
- problem solving strategies

In order to deepen our understanding, we role played numerous scenarios. These grade 6 & 7 students were active participants and made others understand how difficult some scenarios can be. This was a good learning opportunity to review what to do when a difficulty arises.

Presentations were made to all staff members and all primary classes to let them know the role and responsibilities of the Peer Mentors.

Since, May 2012, the students are out on the playground with their clipboards helping to solve problems.

Photos to come shortly.

Update (June 5, 2012)

An update on our project: " Vers le Pacifique" and "La mediation par les pairs au primaire" programs were ordered for our school. Parts of the Vers le Pacifique programme was used in elementary classrooms while learning about problem solving in the school and on the playground. We enjoyed the programs language and visuals and intend on using it more next year.

A Peer Mentor program was started for the first time this year. 9 mentors were trained using the resource title "La mediation par les pairs au primaire". Students were taught about the role and responsibilities of mediators as well as attitudes and problem solving tips and tricks. We used a lot of role playing to practice our skills. Primary students were taught the role of the mentors and the steps of problem solving.

Mentors were out on the playground once a week for a 35 minute recess. With a clipboard in hand, mentors had the problem solving steps and problem solving sheets to fill out once an intervention was completed. Primary students have been seeking the help of these students and have enjoyed having older students help them problem solve.