Navigating Conflict & Challenges

Difficult interpersonal dynamics can often arise in the classroom, sometimes as a natural result of human interaction and sometimes due to emotional challenges that students are experiencing inside and/or outside of school. In this section, faculty share some strategies for managing and responding to these difficult classroom dynamics in transformative rather than punitive ways.

J. Paul Balog – Using Suicide Awareness Skills in the Math Classroom

J. Paul Balog tells us about how his training in suicide awareness and intervention has helped him become a better math teacher. For more information about the trainings that Paul describes in the video, visit: https://www.livingworks.net/programs/. If you have any questions about what Paul shared in this video, feel free to contact him at pbalog@georgebrown.ca.

 Donna Reid: Teaching Conflict Resolution

Donna Reid describes how she teaches conflict resolution skills to students by embracing conflict as a learning opportunity.

If you have any questions about what Donna shared in this video, feel free to contact her at doreid@georgebrown.ca.   

Resources mentioned: Tuckman's stages of group development 

 Heather Lash: Addressing 'Disruptive' Behaviour

Heather Lash discusses her approach to addressing 'disruptive' behaviour and maximizing learning without shaming students.

If you have any questions about what Heather shared in this video, feel free to contact her at hlash@georgebrown.ca.

 Steven Jacobs: Grappling with Power and Hierarchy 

Steven Jacobs speaks to some practices he has found useful in grappling with power and hierarchy in the classroom.

If you have any questions about what Steven shared in this video, feel free to contact him at steven.jacobs@georgebrown.ca.  

Resources mentioned: hooks, bell. (1994). Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom. UK: Routledge.

 Margaret Alexander: Setting Norms Around 'Getting Stuck'

Margaret Alexander tells us how she proactively supports students to get 'unstuck' when they hit bumps in the road throughout the semester.

If you have any questions about what Margaret shared in this video, feel free to contact her at malexand@georgebrown.ca.