Survivor

 Purpose:

          The purpose of this technique is to enable students to become more aware of problems or concerns that are taking place in their own school/classroom setting.  Students will discuss and discover ways to improve or deal with certain situations that are occurring in their every day lives. 

Who can benefit?

          Students, teachers, other staff members, the school system, and parents will benefit from this technique.  Students will learn how to handle problem situations and will work collaboratively with other students. Teachers and parents will have more compliant, understanding, and less problematic children.

Procedure:

·        At the beginning of the class period, the teacher will announce that the students will be asked to write situations or topics of concern on small pieces of paper and will drop them in a basket or other designated container.  The students should write situations that are true to their class, school, and to their everyday lives. 

·        The students will have all morning until lunch to write their concerns or situations.

·        After lunch, break the class into several small groups, groups of 3-4 that should change from week to week, and have the students draw 2-3 pieces of paper out of the container.

·        The students should be given 5-10 minutes to discuss reactions and solutions to each situation.

·        After time is up, each group member will select a spokesperson (a different one for each situation).  The spokesperson will be able to speak only when he or she has possession of the torch or other designated tool that designates that student as the only one speaking. 

·        Spokesperson will deliver responses and then the torch will be passed around for other students to offer additional solutions. 

·        Each group will have a chance to discuss at least one or two of the situations.

·        As student delivers response, teacher or other group members can keep a chart of situations have been addressed and possible solutions for that situation.  This can be a running chart kept throughout the year in order to provide a visual reminder for the students should a specific situation occur.

·        The teacher can conclude with a short summary of what the students have presented and what they have learned.

Conclusions:

            Students will work collaboratively with other students and will develop social skills strategies.  Students, by working with different students from week to week, will create new friendships.  Also, the students will be able to leave the class with new solutions to old and ongoing problems they see, have seen, or may see in the future.  Students will gain self-confidence and skills in supporting and confronting their peers in social situations.

  Concern

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