Ways to Improve
the School’s Social Culture
by Jane Bluestein, Ph.D.
Increase awareness, advocacy and a willingness to take immediate, positive action (regarding how kids treat one another).
Use conflicts as opportunities to teach, build interactive skills and positive attitudes and beliefs about others (rather than simply punishing violators).
Build problem solving skills. (Ask, don’t tell.)
Build social skills or friendship skills as needed.
Build emotional intelligence, resilience, self-control.
Model tolerance and respect (avoid double standards).
Work to deglamorize and eliminate elitist status
of certain students over others. (Value all students, holding a wider range of possible contributions in high regard.)
Provide opportunities for service.
Remember, we don't teach tolerance by punishing intolerance.
Excerpted and adapted from The Win-Win Classroom, revised edition, by Jane Bluestein, Ph.D. © 2008, Corwin Publishing, Thousand Oaks, CA.
See other handouts and excerpts from The Win-Win Classroom and Creating Emotionally Safe Schools:
Stressful or Painful School Experiences that can affect learning and behavior in negative ways
Guidelines for Reinforcing Positive Behavior
Dealing Successfully with your Students’ Parents
Industrial Age vs. Information Age Classrooms
Guidelines for Offering Choices
Other handouts by Dr. Jane Bluestein
Complete alphabetical listing of all handouts on this site.
Articles and excerpts by Dr. Jane Bluestein
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Complete listing of all articles and handouts in Spanish or French.
Books, Articles, Audio and Video Resources and other Resources by Dr. Jane Bluestein
Humor and Fun: Brighten your day with fun facts, short pieces about kids, pets and work, and hilarious things kids say, do and write. Includes items you can share with kids or use as a springboard for discussions and activities.
Hire Jane: Everything you need for your next conference or professional development event
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