By: President Thomas Hayes

 Peer Mediation is a mutually beneficiary approach to resolving a conflict between two students ◦ Usually carried out by students that are designated to be peer mediators  Peer Mediation is a fun way to solve problems, and learn valuable life lessons

 Make introductions and define mediation  State the ground rules: ◦ Mediators remain neutral; they do not take sides. ◦ Mediation is private. ◦ Take turns talking and listening. ◦ Cooperate to solve the problem.  Get a commitment from each disputant to mediate and follow the ground rules.

 Ask each disputant (one at a time) to tell his or her point of view about the problem.  Listen to each disputant and summarize following each disputant's statement.  Allow each disputant a chance to clarify be asking: ◦ Do you have anything to add? ◦ How did you feel when that happened?  Listen, summarize, and enter information on the Mediation Worksheet

 Determine the interests of each disputant. Ask: ◦ What do you want? Why do you want that? ◦ Enter interests on Mediation Worksheet  Listen and summarize. To clarify, ask: ◦ What might happen if you don't reach an agreement? ◦ What would you think if you were in the other person's shoes? ◦ What do you really want?  Summarize the interests. Say: "Your interests are ________________."

 Explain brainstorming and state its rules: ◦ Say any idea that comes to your mind. ◦ Do not judge or discuss ideas. ◦ Come up with as many ideas as possible. ◦ Try to think of unusual ideas.  Write disputants' ideas on the Mediation Worksheet.

 Ask disputants to pick ideas or parts of ideas. Circle these on the Mediation Worksheet.  Evaluate options by applying criteria: ◦ Is this option fair? ◦ Can you do it? ◦ Do you think it will work? ◦ Is it in harmony with your values?

 Help disputants make a plan of action. Get specifics from each disputant: Who, What, When, Where, How?  Write the Peer Mediation Agreement. To complete the agreement, have each disputant summarize by asking: "What have you agreed to do?"  Close the mediation.

Peer Mediation Can Make Hill A Nicer Place To Learn