Fall 2007

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©2007, Service-Learning NETWORK
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Online Project Three: Mediation Teach-in

Introduction

Overview

A "Teach-In" project offers service-learning methods to help upper-level students (mentors) teach younger students about school violence and safety. Cross-age projects such as these have the potential to:

• Introduce both age levels to information about particular topics (bullying, mediation).
• Improve academic skills (reading, comprehending, and applying what is read).
• Influence older and younger student attitudes about at-risk activities (bullying).
• Develop positive school-safety skills (mediation).
• Use interactive techniques to develop cooperative-learning, critical-thinking, research, communication, and reflection skills.

Key elements of these School Safety Teach-in projects include:

• A simple, step-by-step lesson plan. Teach-In lessons do not require teaching skills.
• Teach-In topics that help students avoid at-risk behaviors (bullying) and promote school safety (mediation).

Pitfalls to Avoid

Teach-In projects should provide a positive experience for both the student mentor and the young audience. To this end, avoid:

• Putting the student mentor in an uncomfortable or humiliating position. Assign a Teach-In project to student mentors who have the appropriate skill set (reading, speaking and other communications skills, etc.).
• Expecting the student mentor to stand before an audience and confess or apologize for any negative personal behaviors.
• Giving too much material for the student mentors to teach. Teach-In lessons should take no more than one classroom period for the student mentors to deliver.

Teacher Instructions

This online project is designed to address the problem of school violence by promoting communication between conflicted parties and to reinforce the benefits of positive behaviors and the formation of positive role models.

Hours 2-6

Description: Participants will act as mentors to present a group of younger students (3^rd-5th grade) with a "Teach-In" that introduces mediation skills. If relevant, tell students that--if completed--time spent on this project can be counted as community service hours.

Objectives: This Mediation Teach-In project has the potential to:

• Develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Provide students with an opportunity to serve as positive influences on other young people.
• Provide mediation methods for cross-age audiences.
• Use "Stop and Think: procedures as a reflection component.

Note: AVOID having student participants draw upon, or in any way "confess" to his/her own negative behaviors.

Helping Students Prepare: 1) Identify a group of younger students to work with. 2) If necessary, be prepared to provide transportation for student mentors to the Teach-In site. 3) Ensure they understand the lesson plan and can present the lesson in an age-appropriate, structured way. It is important that the participant be able to read in front of the class comfortably! 4) This mediation Teach-In will require four student mentors who can present the play to the younger students, or will need to work with the teacher of the younger students to identify three who can read the play in front of the class.

Materials Participant will need:

Student Mentors

Handout One--Action Steps

Handout Two--Mediation Lesson Plan

Handout Three--Mediation Steps

 

Younger Students

Handout Three--Mediation Steps