Read To Learn

Introduction

The Ready to Learn: Education for Positive Peace Course is made up of the Introduction, eight units and a Conclusion. The eight units are as follows:  

1. Behaviour Management - Behaviour for Learning and Classroom Contracts
2. Behaviour Management - Rewards and Consequences
3. Behaviour Management -  Active Citizenship and School and Parent Engagement
4. Social Skills and Emotional Intelligence
5. Growth Mindset and Critical Thinking
6. Group Work and Collaborative Learning 
7. Special Needs and Inclusive Education
8. Gender

Unit 1: Behaviour Management - Behaviour for Learning and Classroom Contracts looks at the social and emotional aspects of learning – for both teachers and learners! We will look at how to reflect on WHY learners have behaviour challenges before responding to behaviour issues and also how set up the classroom with an agreed contract between teacher and learners to create an environment that encourages active participation in learning with clear expectations. 

Unit 2: Behaviour Management - Rewards and Consequences introduces the strategies of Behaviour Triangles and House Points - two highly effective strategies for managing classroom (Behaviour Triangles) and whole-school (House Points) behaviour in a consistent and positive way. We will look at how we support children to manage their emotions and to take responsibility for their actions, with compassion and without fear.

Unit 3: Behaviour Management - Citizenship, School and Parent Engagement considers opportunities for us to work with learners to look beyond the classroom, to see themselves challenging inequality and contributing positively to their community and the world. The unit introduces the concepts of Restorative Approaches to Conflict Resolution, to resolve behaviour issues in a way that reaches a win-win situation for everyone involved, and Circle Meetings as a way of increasing the personal and collective responsibility of learners and teachers in the classroom. It also provides an example of a Parent-Teacher Meeting and highlights the importance of communicating effectively with parents. 

Unit 4: Social Skills looks at the concept of introducing one social skill to focus on and teach, each week, in the classroom. This strategy highlights the opportunity to teach social skills through different lessons and acts as an important visual reminder, to both teacher and learners, of social skills that enhance learning and contribute to more peaceful and successful learning environments. This unit also introduces Emotional Intelligence (EQ) competencies and, in particular, empathy, as these EQ skills are necessary for learners (and teachers!) to be positive members of their school communities and beyond, in the wider world.

Unit 5: Growth Mindset and Critical Thinking focuses on how we learn, how our students learn and how we think of ourselves and our students as learners. Through questioning and the use of carefully selected positive language we encourage teachers to challenge learners, and for the learners to challenge themselves, to think more critically about their learning and to create an environment where getting an answer wrong is acceptable and normalised. We will learn to consider a wrong answer to be part of the learning journey, a useful opportunity to identify gaps in learning, and not something to be ashamed of.  Learners will be able to thrive and learn with curiosity in a 'culture of error', which sees mistakes and errors as opportunities for growth and the creation of new knowledge and solutions.

Unit 6: Group Work and Collaborative Learning is about how we organise and work together – as teachers and colleagues, and with our learners. It is also about respect and being able to see others’ points of view. In this unit we learn about the concept of learning teams, how to facilitate effective group work and peer marking.

Unit 7: Special Needs and Inclusive Education is critical to Positive Peace. Inclusion of everyone, providing for them and positively valuing what each person brings to the community, regardless of age, gender, background, or ability, is the foundation of any peaceful society. This unit provides some simple strategies to support inclusion and differentiation, including how to create and use Individual Education Plans (IEPs), to allow us to support a diverse range of needs in the classroom, at the same time. 

Unit 8: Gender looks at how we can teach boys and girls effectively, at the same time, in a gender responsive way. We look at how to encourage everyone to reach their full potential, especially by being aware of the messages we give in the classroom. This unit also looks at incidental learning opportunities in the classroom where gender can be discussed.