What Do You Mean “Think Before I Act”?: Conflict Resolution With Choices

Twenty 1st-grade students participated in an eight-week action research study. Students participated in class meetings where they discussed problem-solving solutions, particularly positive forms of conflict resolution. The “Wheel of Choice” provided the students with the choices for solutions that included 1) make an apology, 2) tell the other person to stop, 3) walk away, and 4) give an “I” message. Data was collected through 1) student pre- and post-surveys, 2) student conflict-resolution journals, 3) behavior tally sheets, 4) observational notes, and 5) teacher reflective journal. Pre- and post-surveys indicated that the students developed more positive strategies for solving conflicts. The student conflict-resolution journals demonstrated that students were able to write down positive forms of conflict resolution after thinking about the problem. Analysis of the tally sheets indicated that physical and verbal aggression decreased from the first week (22 incidents) to the eighth week (4 incidents) of the study. The teacher reflection journal and observational notes also documented that students used the “Wheel of Choice” when given the opportunity and time to think about the problem.