High Five Strategy
What is High Five?
High Five is a 5 step problem solving strategy that can be used in the classroom, in the playground and for perceived bullying incidents. It is an effective strategy to develop problem-solving strategies for our students. When used as a whole school approach, it is an effective strategy to tackle bullying.
Why teach students to use High Five?
Explicitly teaching and reinforcing use of this strategy gives students skills which will build their self-esteem and empower them to take responsibility for themselves. Giving students the power and opportunity to practise these pro-active strategies helps to prevent incidents turning in to bullying.
Implementation in all classrooms:
All steps are modelled and taught through role play and use of a Y chart (looks like, feels like, sounds like) to lead or support class discussion.
Each classroom will display a chart showing steps for using these strategies.
Reporting straight away
If the issue involves health or safety, students are to report straight away to a teacher. They are not to attempt to solve such problems themselves.
Do the High Five
Talk Friendly
Ignore
Walk Away
Talk Firmly
Report
Talk Friendly
- This is the most powerful strategy
- Stay calm and respectful
- Take turns to speak
- Use words to tell the person about the problem
- Suggest ways to solve the problem
Ignore
- Pretend you didn’t hear it
- Look away, don’t smile
- Maintain positive body posture (Calm, confident)
- Distract yourself by thinking of something pleasant
Walk Away
- Move away from student involved in the problem
- Move confidently, head up high, mouth closed
- Walk somewhere towards a safety zone (teacher)
Talk Firmly
- Be assertive
- Use a serious voice, but don’t yell
- Take turns to speak
- Don’t use put downs
Report
- Ask an adult for help
- Explain the problem in an honest way. Tell the teacher what you have tried to do. Respect the teachers decision and take whatever steps the teacher suggests.
- Report problems in class to the teacher taking the class when the problem happens.
- Report problems in the playground at the time, to the person on duty in the area where the problem happens.