Conflict is a way of life—something we cannot avoid. In the classroom or other group settings, these conflicts take time away from learning and can try the patience of even the most seasoned teacher. But there is an alternative: mediation. By teaching mediation skills to elementary school children, we demonstrate creative and constructive ways to handle conflicts and empower them for a lifetime. Little Peacemakers provides a step-by-step framework for training classroom mediators who help peers resolve a problem and arrive at a peaceful solution. Classroom mediators are highly effective in helping other students solve nonphysical disagreements through a series of simple steps. The eight-week curriculum consists of 30-minute, hands-on lessons that teach problem solving, active listening, and brainstorming and how to apply those skills to mediation. Part 1: Ready, Set, Go introduces students to the concepts and skills of mediation.
Part 2: Practice Makes Perfect focuses on role-playing activities that let children put their skills to use.
Part 3: Getting Parents/Guardians Involved provides information and tips for family members. Two CDs accompany this book. One provides forms, handouts, and other reproducible materials for the program. The other contains The Mediator Rap, a song that helps students memorize the steps of the mediation process. About the Authors Max Nass, LHMC, is an elementary school mediation trainer and facilitator. He has been a guidance counselor for more than 25 years. He received the award for Outstanding Performance in the Field of Counseling from the New York City Association for Counseling & Development and was recognized as one of the top guidance counselors in New York City. Max appeared with one of his mediators on The Oprah Winfrey Show. He has also appeared on Fox TV’s Good Day New York, CNN’s Eyewitness News, ABC’s Making a Difference, and numerous other radio and television shows throughout the United States. He lectures frequently and conducts workshops for teachers, community leaders, parents, and youth on mediation and conflict resolution. If you would like him to do a workshop at your school, have any questions, or just want say hello, you can reach him at kidsgame55@yahoo.com. Marcia Nass, M.S., is a former first-grade teacher and author of many bestselling children’s books. She is an expert in the field of bullying and has recently written How to Be a Bully! Not! for elementary school children, along with other materials to help children understand bullying and its consequences. For storytime author visits and workshops on bullying, you can contact Marcia at kidsgame55@yahoo.com. Articles about Max and Marcia’s programs have appeared in The New York Times, the New York Daily News, the Boston Parents’ Paper, Long Island Parent magazine, Newsday, Teaching Tolerance, the United Federation of Teachers’ newsletter, the American Federation of Teachers’ newsletter, Essence magazine, and others. Some of the award-winning materials that Max and Marcia have created include the following: No More Bullies activity book
No More Bullies game
The Bully-Free Classroom card game
Bully-Smart Kid songs
Stop Being So Mean board game
Stop That Angry Thought card game
One of a Kind card game
What Do You Stand For? card game
The Whodunit Responsibility board game
Any Game cards
The Lion Who Lost His Roar
The Cheetah Who Lost Her Speed
The Rabbit Who Lost His Hop
How to Be a Bully! Not! book and card game
Social Skills Double Trouble | 
