Unresolved conflicts in schools build barriers to learning, including low motivation, lack of focus, and disruptive behaviors that remove students from the classroom. When teacher-student conflicts occur, the negative effects can be long-lasting without a safe and structured way to repair the relationship.

This reader-friendly guidebook has a concrete, evidence-based solution: an easy and effective 50-minute mediation technique for teachers and students in Grades K-12. School psychologist Ondine Gross guides you through the whole process of starting a teacher-student mediation programme, conducting successful mediations, and collecting and monitoring data to determine the effectiveness of the programme. You’ll also learn how to use the technique to mediate conflicts between students and between adults in schools, including staff members and parents.

Highly successful as a Tier II intervention, this common-sense solution will help your school leave ineffective discipline techniques behind—and embrace more supportive approaches that model social and problem solving skills, reduce suspensions, and keep students learning.

Why Mediation?

Reduces disciplinary actions—82% of students who participated in mediation had no further disciplinary referrals from that teacher*
Removes or reduces obstacles to student learning and achievement
Gives teachers insights into student stressors so they can develop positive solutions
Strengthens and repairs relationships among all members of a school community: teachers, students, staff members, and parents
Boosts teacher morale
Enhances social-emotional learning
Builds trust and promotes an environment of caring and respect among people of different backgrounds
Fits perfectly within response to intervention and systems of schoolwide positive behavior support frameworks
Works in any school—embed it as a Tier II intervention in your multitiered system of supports or use it as a standalone strategy


*Statistic derived from average of three years of data from the author’s school

Practical Materials Included:

Compelling case stories
candid feedback from teachers, students and administrators
sample mediation dialogue
step-by-step mediation training and practice scenarios
an intervention tracking tool
a “mediation toolbox” of handouts and forms


Includes “Your Mediation Toolbox”:

Teacher-Student Mediation Request Form
Student Mediation Request Form
Sample follow-up email
Student and teacher feedback surveys
Student mediation contracts

Foreword by: Jed Baker