K-2 Kelso's Choice

To finish our theme of Friendship I am ending this month with conflict management skills for K-2 classes. I use the curriculum Kelso's Choice when teaching problem solving. The curriculum is split into 2 sections: K-3 and 4-5. I enjoy teaching students these skills because it empowers them to work through some of the 'small problems' they may have with friends. We first talk about the difference between small and big problems. I have my puppet friends (Kelso and is friend Lilly) help me out. We then think of adults who they trust that they can go to when there is a big problem.

We cover these skills over 3 lessons. With the curriculum there is the teaching of Kelso's wheel where we go over different strategies to solve small problems. Each lesson we cover a few and then practice them together so they have it down incase they may need to use it. The students understand that they need to pick 2 of the strategies on the wheel to solve their small problem first and if it still is not resolved they can come to me or a grownup they trust to help them with it. I have seen a big improvement with students working out their small problems. I pass out wheels to the teachers and have them help with some of the skills students have been learning in social skills class. The students are becoming great at solving their small problems!