What if your students could
focus on learning?
Students can’t learn and teachers can’t teach when there’s infighting among the students or between students, parents, teachers, or administrators. We provide solutions to create a more productive learning atmosphere, for everyone to enjoy.
They key to classroom harmony is a healthy set of communication skills and respectful dynamic between teachers and students. The Harmony Strategies Group offers one-on-one and group coaching options for teachers and faculty, teaching conflict management and negotiation skills that enhance relationships with each other and students.
Restorative Practices and Circles
Restorative Justice (aka Restorative Practice) focuses on building and maintaining harmony by addressing harm in a collaborative conversation. We apply Community and Restorative Circles to develop a respectful classroom culture and mutual concern among students. We are not interested in "blame and punishment" but rather "repairing the harm." The process allows for the perpetrator to acknowledge the harm done and make amends, while offering the stakeholders an opportunity for their pain to be heard and validated. The ultimate effect? A harmonious classroom where students can learn effectively, teachers can teach without disruption, and school performance is at its peak.
For more on this topic, see our recent article: "The Magic of Harmony Circles".
Conflict Assessments and Solutions
Bullying, teasing, bickering, and fights are common among students and detract from learning. Many students lack basic discipline at home and are disrespectful and defiant to teachers, staff, and administrators. By assessing student and teacher attitudes and habits, we create action-plans for schools to become better equipped to handle these challenging dynamics. Our solutions prevent unnecessary escalation that drains the entire school system of valuable time and resources. We offer school-wide conflict management assessments and individual coaching to principals, teachers, and key staff. Our coaching and consulting solutions train teachers and staff to treat problems early-on, to optimize the teaching/learning experience and create a school culture of tolerance, respect, and understanding.
Peer Mediation
Along with other conflict management services, we can train and direct peer-mediation programs in both public and private schools. These programs empower students to effectively handle playground and classroom conflicts themselves. Many of the student-mediators go on to leadership positions, where their mediation training helps them throughout their lives. And other students and teachers benefit from the program by averting power-dynamics problems that can arise when teachers or administrators get involved. Peer mediation programs have been proven to be greatly beneficial, allowing students and teachers alike to focus better in the classroom and beyond.
Adult Workshops
We offer workshops for educational boards, principals, teachers, and administrators, that highlight key discipline and listening-skills. Our workshops include:
Student Workshops
In addition to our adult programming, we deliver workshops directly to students, encouraging teamwork, focusing on body language, and introducing inter-active listening-skills. Workshops for students are designed for elementary through high school participants, each customized according to the specific needs of the school. Offerings include:
Note: all services are customized to meet individual client's needs. For more information and an overview of our services, visit our services page.