Notice the child drawings behind the area. What a beautiful way to make that their own space.
One of the best gifts from Montessori education has to be the concept of the Peace Table. The Peace Table is a conflict resolution tool for the classroom. Traditionally, there is a peace rose that the children can present to a child they have a conflict with and “go” to the table to work it out. One way to adapt that process to the classroom is to use a little heart stone.
How It Works
The child who is upset brings the issue to the Peace Table. Holding the stone, they state the problem.
I coach the child to state the problem as “I did not like it when. . . .”
Then from that point on it is a “I feel ______ when _______” statement. (I statements!)
The feeling of cozy and calm is an important part of the Peace Table
The other child has a chance to say what they are feeling as well. The peace stone goes back and forth until the children have expressed all their feelings and the issue is resolved.
What is amazing about the process is that the children are given a chance to safely express their feelings to a peer. There is the tool for “talk turns” – the peace rose or stone. It eliminates tattling as I just send them to the Peace Table. Nine times out of ten, the problem is resolved by the very act of communicating their feelings. The children who have trouble with their peers need help with this process – but it is a great forum to do it!
Before Transformation:
After Transformation:
Notice how the new Peace Table Area is defined.
Wish we could have a global Peace Table for big people. . . .and it worked like this does!!!
Thank you to the amazing OU Students, mentors, and teachers who provided these beautiful photos of their transformed classrooms! Stay tuned for a full blog on their transformations!
BONUS! Click here to download a copy of “Special in My Own Way” book that you can print and have children and families create and even keep those in your Peace Table area for children to look at after!
Question: is it always the child’s choice to go the peace table? Or does the teacher sometimes require it if there is a conflict but the children seem unwilling to resolve it?
Emily, It’s a tool to help in conflict resolution. You can model it and also have other students model it. The Peace Table is to build conflict resolution skills, never to be used as punishment. You could calmly and gently guide the children to the table and explain what it is for.
I have used this for several years, and found it a good skill developer that flows into developing a sense of restorative justice now used in most elementary schools. Far more effective and respectful than ‘timeout’
Maria, It is so much more effective! I believe learning conflict resolution skills is a lifelong skill!
This idea is wonderful, I like when the teacher created a small space for those children how needs to be alone to reflex on their own behavior. Those spaces gives children that ownership feeling into the classroom also such as “I have my own space, where I can be by my self”
Carmen, I so agree! It’s a wonderful place to calm and reflect.
We do peer mediations but I love the softness and calming of the designated area. I will definitely be making a spot. And I already have a Natural heart shaped rock in our collection!
That will be just wonderful JoAnne. So calming and centering!
This is a lovely philosophy thank you everyone. I would love to know more about peer meditations as I have a mixed age group setting (3-5 year olds)
Hello Sally,
Which age group do you think a peace table would be suitable for ?
Thank you,
The Peace Table is great to begin in a three year old class, but can be incorporated earlier in a multi-age class as the older kids can be wonderful role models. It’s inspiring to see!
So beautiful.Just love this.
I have a child when he gets invited to the peace table by his peer, he always denied his behavior by saying “I didn’t do it”. what can I do to help him admitting his behavior. another example, if it is too windy and the his teacher said we can’t go outside because it is too windy, he always says no it not too windy even though his teacher can let him look through the window watching the wind but he still insets on it is not windy and we can go play outside.
Eman, by modeling appropriate language and behavior, this child will learn in his own time. You might ask him “Why don’t you think we can’t go outside?” instead of telling him why. You may see him thinking through his actions or decisions a little more.
Maybe he is questioning why wind would prevent him from playing outside. Some children frame their questions as challenges/oppositions.
Hi Sally,
I received your “rough draft” regarding the peace table in my email. I went back to reread your message, and to make a comment only to have the original email missing. If you could resend the email back to me, I would love to review it.
Thank you for such a lovely idea.
Sharon
I really love this concept and definitely want to learn more about how I might use it in my classroom. I currently use a conflict resolution “mat.” The students can roll out the mat if they have an issue and follow the “steps” (take a big breath, use an “I feel” statement, promise to use kind words next time, etc.). I really like the idea you wrote about here because it gives the students a designated safe space. Plus, I love how inviting it is! Are the pictures on the wall specifically related to feelings or were the children able to decorate the space however they wanted?
Love the stone being passed back and forth between students.
Hello! I have tried the peace table and it did wonders! I had children asking me to get in the classroom (when we were in recess) to use the peace table!
This year I am hoping to incorporate more Reggio inspired elements such as documentation. I have read a lot of helpful articles on the 3rd teacher.
I was wondering how to start.
I usually start with blank walls, empty spaces, lots of singing, movement, picture books and procedures. Gradually present materials hole group and then put them out for use.
What does a Reggio inspired first day or first week does look like?
Has anyone used this in a home. Siblings fighting and not able to get along.
I have used a thinking bench, where two children go to sit, think and resolve problems between themselves. When they have a solution, they can hop up from the bench and let me know their plan for solving their conflict.
Can you use this for preschool or does it only work better with kindergarten and up?
I have used the peace table for 4 year olds with great success.
I never heard about Peace Table, I love this idea/concept that creates an peaceful environment and opportunity for young children to solve/talk over their conflicts. I think it suits for grownups, too.
Center for healthy minds research, out of Univ of Wisconsin-Madison has a free Kindness Curriculum that is awesome
Wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing!
I found their “speaking from the heart”, and “star listener” pr
ops helpful with the littlies. My two year olds see sitting down with transgressions ‘punishment’. These craft sticks allow them to go wherever they want in the room to settle their differences
My two year olds feel sitting is punishment. The mindfulness meditation aspect of Kindness curriculum gave me the “star listener”, “speaking from the heart” idea. Littlies love it, without feeling they are in ‘time out.
Beautiful!!
I am so happy with this website – have gotten such great ideas, thak you Sally. In these rough times you are really given us all such great tools for re-configuring and re-structuring in the time of covid. I feel empowered by all the amazing people I have met through the Play First Summit. And I feel empowered by knowing there are other communities out there that feel as we do!
Awww. We are so much better together!!
This looks wonderful. Do the children only go there if they have a conflict or do they ever go to just hang out without having a conflict and if so are they allowed to or are they moved on? It looks so inviting.
I think this can be a great tool to help with conflicts. I had never heard of the peace table so I think this is pretty cool!