Battling negativity in the classroom to reduce early school leaving

In today's context, it is imperative to focus on factors that contribute to the prevention and effective management of Early School Leaving and conflicts. This training course addresses this critical issue, which is growing in significance each day, even though finding straightforward solutions remains challenging. Embracing a comprehensive perspective, participants will gain insights into identifying the underlying causes of these challenges. They will also acquire the most effective techniques and strategies for prevention, intervention, and reduction, along with essential skills for conflict resolution.

​The new edition of the course “Preventing conflicts and tackling Early School Leaving​” took place in Tenerife from  The participants came from all across Europe, from the school Utbildning Gävle, Sweden, Emma Strid Östlund, Carola Wigren Lingvall, Catharina Bendek and Ida Norell ;Osnovna škola Vladimira Nazora, Croatia, Damir Burić ;Secondary School Novo Selo,Bulgaria, Galabina Boyanova, Irena Georgieva Tsvetkova and Mariya Rumenova Ivanova ;Liceo Issel, Italy, Claudia Badiale.

Early School Leaving presents a significant challenge throughout Europe, and given the European context, participants had the opportunity to delve into diverse national viewpoints. The first day of the program was dedicated to elucidating the concept of Early School Leaving and pinpointing the primary risk factors. This exercise helps participants to construct a candid representation of their encounters with Early School Leaving within their respective educational settings. It began with an examination of the root causes and extended to the possible outcomes, providing a comprehensive view of the issue.

We initiated our approach to address Early School Leaving with the fundamental belief that establishing a strong connection with our students is imperative. This entails getting closer to their interests and emotions. To emphasize this point, participants actively participated in various activities that underscored the significance of active listening and emotional intelligence in nurturing social bonds.

The participants delved into the subject of conflict management, and to kickstart the exploration, we encouraged a shift in perspective. Through an inspiring TED Talk, those who initially viewed conflicts as predominantly negative came to the realization that conflicts can, in fact, present unique opportunities for enhancing their relationships, communication, and comprehension.

Following this, the group engaged in informal activities aimed at underscoring the significance of belonging and teamwork. The session involved an examination of collaborative work strategies and the exploration of peer-education techniques.

The group's attention turned towards addressing negativity in the classroom. This was achieved through a combination of group reflection and hands-on activities. The session involved an examination of various conflict management styles and a discussion on how these styles can be practically applied in diverse situations. Subsequently, the group identified and described the primary "negative" student archetypes and devised practical recommendations on how to effectively handle them. The participants also took part in a team challenge that provided insights into nurturing a growth mindset among our students.

Finally, we explored the issue of bullying using visual tasks and group discussions. We delved into strategies to empower individuals to become "upstanders" rather than bystanders, actively intervening to stop bullying incidents.

The central theme of this week's training course was "transformation." Participants discovered how to shift their viewpoint on conflicts, convert the potent, occasionally negative energy of certain students into something constructive and beneficial, transition from a fixed mindset to a growth-oriented one, and morph a collection of individuals into a cohesive team.

discover more about this course here.