Thank You Bunches!!

To all of my communication colleagues "Thank You" for all of your support and valuable knowledge that you have shared with me during this course. I feel privilege and blessed to have shared this experience with you all. I will continue to read your blogs and grow as as professional. 

Charlene

Adjourning A Group

The group that I found to be the hardest group to leave was a group that was comprised of 3^rd grade teachers. This was my first year teaching and these 4 veteran teachers really created an environment of trust for me to grow and share ideas during our grade level meetings. No strategy or idea I shared within the meeting was said to be not useful. We were a high performing group, our team was always recognized for creative and effective teaching. Classrooms from our grade level was always used as training grounds for visiting teachers from other schools. Unfortunately, the next year the number of students enrolled decreased for 3^rd grade and I was placed in 1^st grade to teach. It was very hard to leave this group of women, one of the things we would do to build relationship among us was to have breakfast once within the six week period prior to the beginning of the school day. We would all bring individual dishes and just talk and get to know each other better. Even after I moved to another grade level these 3^rd grade teachers continued to invite me to this annual breakfast. I’m sure leaving my colleagues here at Walden will be just as difficult. I hope that we will continue to communicate and share through our blogs. The adjourning stage is essential because it is a time to reflect on what caused success and what caused failure or obstacles.

Conflict Management

My nephew is currently enrolled in college. He has been doing very well and excels in his classes. He choose to enroll in this college program offered to veterans because he could not find a job. This program pays for him to go to college and provides him with an apartment. He wants to stop the program for the summer and seek a job for the summer.  He says he needs a break. This will stop all finances and he will be left to pay for the apartment for the three months of not attending. I think he should continue to attend during the summer because he does not have a job lined up and the unemployment rate is high in our area. I think he is getting tired of me telling him what my thoughts are. I not trying to be a nag, but I have seen my nephew homeless and living in a shelter, prior to entering this program.

Strategy 1: Debate and Argue

I would use this technique because it would allow me to ask probing questions that would require specific and precise answers. Hopefully this would allow my nephew to see the pros and cons of his decision. It would also allow me to see why he may not be interested in completing the program he is enrolled in. This will also help us exchange ideas and build a better relationship.

Strategy 2: Consider Options and Alternative

I would suggest that my nephew check with the school to see if he can reduce his hours of attendance and find part time employment through the school.

Strategy 3: Consider the Importance of the Outcome

I would clarify the consequences of my nephews choices, by emphasizing the need for him to have shelter.