Until Next Time

It is hard to believe we have finished another course! We are just a few more away from earning our Master’s degree! I would like to thank Dr. Parrish for the feedback on the assignments. I have learned so much about communication, collaboration and conflict resolution. I would also like to thank my colleagues for your encouragement and comments both on the blogs and the discussion boards. Each one of you have been so positive and encouraging! I trust that I supported my colleagues by asking them questions in the discussions that had them thinking up of new answers. I hope all my colleagues the best in grasping whatever professional endeavor they are chasing. I know that you all have a bright and important future. Maybe we will meet again in another course. I hope that we can keep in touch!

Adjourning

This week we are continuing our look at teambuilding. Our question is as we have learned to be in groups what can be learned from high performing groups. When the group is high performing everybody can become independent and work independently. “The high performing team functions without oversight and them members to become independent” (Abudi, 2010). I have had many positive as well as some negative experiences when working in group projects at school and also in the work place. I think that many of the negative experiences that I had were because of a lack of communication or a misunderstanding that happened between members of the group.

I do believe that high-performing groups have been the hardest to leave for me. When we all work hard and in unity, we get to appreciate each individual and we get to appreciate them for their effort and dedication to the activity and to the group. But, I Also think that even though low-performing groups are a relief to leave, they always leave a sad feeling inside of me. I feel bad because things didn't go smoothly like I would have liked, especially if I was the main one involved in the conflict or disagreement. I don't like to feel that I failed myself or that I failed others.

During one summer, I had the opportunity to work on a project with an amazing group of individuals. After we turned in our group project, we went to the campus pub and ordered food and fine spirits and had a great time reminiscing about the weeks that we had spent together working with the children (practicum) and completing our final project.  I don't even want to think about adjourning with this great group of colleagues that I have met while working on my master's degree. Just thinking about it is making me emotional. I have learned so much from many of my colleagues. Their ideas, thoughts, and constructive advice and feedback has opened up my eyes to see things from a different perspective. Even though, I cannot literally hear them, I have learned to be a better listener and to be more aware of the messages that they were conveying when I read their posts. 

“When a group has to adjourn they will miss working with each other but have vowed to remain friends and keep in touch on a personal level” (Abudi, 2010). I do think that adjourning is an essential stage of teamwork because it brings closure. Like in any situation, It helps us to close that chapter and move. I also believe the graduation is how we adjourned. Adjourning is an essential stage of teamwork because it means that have ended.

Reference:

Abudi, G. (2010). The five stages of team development: A case study. Retrieved from http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/the-five-stages-of-team-development-a-case-study.html

Conflict Resolutions

One disagreement that I recently experienced was with my 14 year old daughter. Every weekend she thinks she has to go somewhere. The conflict we had was because she wanted to stay out later than her curfew. Her curfew is 9 or maybe 10 depending on who she with and what they are doing. Last week her and her friends went to the skating rink. It closes at 10 so I told her I would be to pick her up. Around 9:30 she called me asking could she go to her friend’s house and go to McDonald's. I couldn’t get her to understand that I love her and 

I am watching out for her safety. All she see is a lot of children hanging out and she think it is okay to do the stuff her friends do.

One strategy that I will do is to continue to discuss (every time she goes out) that way when I say I’m going to pick her up then that’s what I’m going to do. We will hold this discussion before she leaves so she will have that understanding. I explained to my daughter the reason why I don’t like her hanging out and I want to pick her up myself because that way I know she is safe.

“One of the 3 R’s is respect. “I will continue to talk, treat and approach her with respect because positive relationships/interactions are the foundation for future learning and relationships” (Chesire, 2007). When I asked her about our discussion, she appreciates that I always talk to her with respect and that she appreciates that I care for her well-being and that I give her a chance to share her feelings and thoughts. She also said that she understands that even though she’s a teenager now she is still my little girl and that she needs to follow the rules that I set for her because they are for her own well-being.

Reference

Chesire, N. (2007). The 3 R’s: Gateway to Infant Toddler Learning. Dimensions of Early Childhood. Volume 35, No. 3.

EDUC 6165 Week 4: Who Am I as a Communicator

For this assignment I had my mom and my daughter evaluate me. The things that surprise me was how differently my daughter saw me as a communicator. In the communication Anxiety Inventory she scored me on the low side (32) which means I would be very comfortable speaking in public and have no anxiety. I scored myself as a 53 so that means I must play it off well. I am anxious in certain situations and comfortable in others.

I think the one thing that surprised me the most was my listening style. My score revealed that I am people-oriented. I am empathetic and concerned with the emotions of others. In some way I can see that but some ways I don’t. As I get older I have learn to be empathetic. When I was younger I really didn’t listen first and was ready to say whatever came to my mind. Glad I grew up!

This week I gained insights that I have work to do to be a more effective communicator. I gain insights in understanding that I maintain a good balance between respect and consideration for other’s viewpoint. I gain insights on how to refine how I came across and state my intentions in clear and respectful ways and not let the feelings I have towards them affect my communications with them.

Week 3 Communicating and Culture

Yes I find myself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures. I have a Spanish child in my room and he or his mom doesn’t speak English. There is an older brother in the home that can speak English. Sometimes she brings the brother to translate. I know how to speak a little Spanish but I can understand it more when someone is talking to me. So basically I can understand it better than speaking it.

My first strategy would be to communicate with all families. There are 2 translators where I work so I will make sure to get them involved so the parents will feel comfortable. I want to have confidence in being able to confront them with anything and being comfortable talking to them.

My second strategy is to have enough confidence to learn and speak Spanish. I want to have confidence to confront the families with a good-morning how are you in Spanish. My strategy would be to first learn the words that are important to them. I want to be able to communicate with the child while they are in my care. I want to be able to understand their needs and wants.

My third strategy would be to learn enough Spanish to communicate with my families even if it just simple words. I want to be able to communicate without a translator so I can get to know their culture. I want the families to feel included like all the other families.