"Battling negativity in the classroom to reduce early school leaving"

Today, it is more essential than ever to address factors that contribute to preventing and managing early school leaving and conflicts. This training course aims to tackle a critical and increasingly relevant issue, despite the complexity of finding straightforward solutions. With a holistic approach, participants will learn to identify the causes of early school leaving and explore the most effective strategies to prevent, address, and reduce it. The course will also provide valuable tools for conflict management.
The new edition of the course “Preventing Conflicts and Tackling Early School Leaving” took place in Tenerife from October 6 to October 12, 2024. Participants from various parts of Europe attended, including Heleen, Bert, and Fida from R.O.C. Drenthe College in the Netherlands; Maricha, Robin, Sara, and Cecilia from Fenix kultur- och kunskapscentrum in Sweden; and Gaud, Catherine, and Yvette from DDEC 29 in France.
Early school leaving is a widespread challenge across Europe, and participants had the opportunity to explore different national perspectives within this European context. On the first day, they focused on defining what Early School Leaving means and identifying its main risk factors. This discussion allowed participants to create and share a realistic overview of their experiences with Early School Leaving, starting with its underlying causes and extending to its potential consequences.
We began with the understanding that to develop an effective approach to early school leaving, it is crucial to connect with our students and understand their interests and feelings. Participants took part in hands-on activities to explore the significance of active listening and emotional intelligence in fostering social connections.

Participants delved further into the topic of conflict resolution, beginning with a shift in perspective. An inspiring TED Talk helped the group, who initially associated conflict with negativity, to realize that conflicts can actually offer valuable possibilities  for improving relationships, communication, and understanding. Subsequently, the group participated in non-formal activities to reflect on the importance of belonging and cooperation. They examined strategies for working together and peer education. The group then shifted their focus to combating negativity in the classroom through group reflection and hands-on activities. They explored different styles of conflict management and discussed how to apply them in various scenarios. Next, the group identified and described the main types of “negative” students and created practical tips and strategies for effectively addressing them. Additionally, participants engaged in a team challenge designed to help them promote a growth mindset in their students. In the end, we examined the phenomenon of bullying through visual tasks and group reflection, discussing potential approaches for becoming upstanders and putting a stop to bullying. The central theme of this week’s training course was “transformation.” We focused on changing our perspective on conflicts, channelling the intense and sometimes negative energy of certain students into positive and productive outcomes, shifting our mindset from fixed to growth, and transforming a group of individuals into a unified team. Discover more about this course here.