I Message Poster

Today I am sharing a poster that we have been using in our classroom since the beginning of the school year.  This poster has helped my students learn how to resolve conflict with other students.  Oh my, where do I even start....picture this, two kindergartners very upset at each other and having a hard time communicating how they feel with words...and then someone gets hurt (no bueno).  This has been my most challenging year of all, but I'm very proud of all of my kiddos this year!! Not only did they learn to communicate how they feel using their words, but have also learned to care for one another in our classroom.  Believe me, when I say that this poster has been used many, many, MANY times on a daily bases, lol.

Every day during our circle time we recite and sing our classroom rules, say a 'Bucket Filler Pledge', and practice using the 'I' message.  I have my helper for the day, pick a stick from a cup and have that student say aloud their 'I' message.  The whole class repeats it back word by word, just to practice using the sentences.  I really like using this a lot this year, since we have been learning so much about kelso choices and this poster helps with the Kelso Choice: 'Talk it Out.'

I find myself catching a lot of my students using the words front the 'I' message to help resolve a small problem.  I always have a student who comes up to me and says "Teacher, he said that he won't be my friend anymore."  And that is when I have both friends sit down together and talk it out.  Many times, this is what I hear for their 'I' message to resolve the conflict.  Example: I feel sad, when you say that you will not be my friend because I like being friends with you.  Can you please be my friend.  Or I've listened to other 'I' messages like: I feel upset, when you shout at me because it hurts my ears.  Can you please stop shouting at me. Thank you!

Now remember, these are words coming from a 5 and 6 year old...so sometimes it can be interesting to hear what they say.  In the end, when they have 'Talked it Out,' and they feel that they have resolved the problem, they end with a hug or a handshake.

I had so much fun making these posters that I couldn't decide which one I liked the best and I made three of them.  

Please click on the picture to get a copy of the poster.  

I hope you enjoy using these in your classroom and  thanks for stopping by!!:)