“I’m here because I have a problem and I need your help,” Qatar Academy teacher Crista Everett opened up to a class of first graders. With 19 years of experience working with primary school students, Everett’s presentation revolves around Kelso — a conflict resolution programme for school-aged children which Qatar Academy has been using for the last few years.
“The Kelso conflict management system provides students with choices that enable them to become better communicators and more independent, responsible problem solvers,” says Everett.
There are nine simple and easy to remember choices which the students can apply when in a difficult situation. This year, to further instill the programme’s lessons, life-sized Kelso structures have been strategically placed along the primary school learning pods and corridors. The frog sculptures hold signages like ‘Talk it Out’, ‘Share and Take Turns’ and ‘Apologise’, among other words — all part of the nine-choice strategy which Everett is highlighting in her lesson.
The teacher makes the presentation as engaging and real as possible, using everyday situations like waiting in line or playing in the playground to send her message across. She interacts with the students through role playing and by asking questions so that her message resonates clearly with them. However, she also acknowledges that everybody can have bad days and encounter problems but, in reference to the Kelso system, ‘one always has a choice’.
“Raise your hand if you’ve made bad choices,” she instructs them. “Everybody makes a bad choice sometimes because we’re just humans. It’s normal to have a bad day but always remember that we can always try to do the right thing”.
According to Everett, who is now doing her graduate studies in counselling, “I always consider their age level and ability to understand the material and try to deliver the information so that it will be interesting and memorable. I wanted to be animated in order to capture their interest. I asked questions to determine whether or not they understood and I also involved them in role playing with the puppets in order to assess the learning. At the end of my discussion, I reviewed my key points and allowed a bit of time for questions. The Kelso fixtures outside drive these points home and hopefully remind them to always make the right choices when the need arises”.The Peninsula
