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HOW TO TEACH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO DEVELOP SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY


Teaching social responsibility means intentionally teaching young people to understand themselves, each other, and the world. To do this one can create classrooms where students can air and solve conflicts, discuss controversial topics, have a say in what and how one learns, ask questions, engage in dialogue, and be moved to action as result of their study.

Tips to teach social responsibility:

Make your classroom more democratic and participatory. The following questions will help decide how to involve students in the curriculum and in the classroom.

*can students be allowed to determine classroom rules/guidelines and consequences?

* How can students share ideas about reading assignments, areas of study, and home-work?

* can some decisions be made by consensus?

* can students take turns teaching the class, either individually or in groups?

Its human nature to be more invested in something if one has a say in it. We’ve all felt the frustration of watching the same five hands shoot up over and over again in whole class discussions. Think about ways to get more students to participate. Mix up teaching strategies to get more kids to contribute to the conversation: try small groups, pairs, fishbowls, collaborative groups, and micro-labs. Students who are usually quiet in class can sometimes be motivated to participate through activities that involve writing, theatre, or art.

Teach students to solve conflicts:

Conflict is a part of life. In fact, conflict often makes life interesting and can lead to greater understanding and deeper connections between people. Unfortunately, conflict in schools often causes disharmony, fighting, or even violence. That’s where social and emotional skill-building comes in. having these skills will help students navigate their social world, and help them do better academically. Begin by helping the class develop a sense of community by doing team-building activities and collectively determining classroom rules.

·         Teach active listening and practice “I-messages” (saying how you feel rather than blaming the other person) to cut down the number of conflicts.

·         *When conflicts arise, use them to teach skills and promote healthy relationships.

·         * Help students learn concrete problem-solving and negotiation strategies. Teach them how to stand up for what they need without putting down the other person in the conflict. We call this being “strong” not “mean”. Work towards win-win solutions.

Be aware that sometimes prejudice and stereotyping are the root causes of conflict. To address this, integrate concepts of diversity and intercultural understanding into the curriculum as much as possible.

Address Controversial Issues:

We live in a world filled with controversy. Students are usually passionate about the hot topics of the day, and will want to discuss them in school. Be both proactive and reactive: Bring up difficult or controversial topics, and also respond to questions.

If students’ questions come up when time is short, acknowledge the question and come back to it later.

Let the students know that nothing is off-limits.

Be sure to keep parents in the loop: Let them know what you’re doing and be sensitive about what topics might relate to the home.

And always consider what’s  age appropriate for the students. For example, if third grade students want to discuss a devastating earthquake that has been in the news, focus on the science of earthquake, how people have helped the victims, and perhaps how students themselves could help. High school students can handle discussions about death and damage the quake caused.

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