Building a Collaborative Culture
9/7/2018
Have you even been in a group project where you ended up doing all the work? Or maybe you just sat in a corner and let someone else do all the work? Have you encountered a time when you'd rather work alone than in a group because you have different opinions, needs, and wants that you would not just get along? Now, think of a time when you've been a part of a team you realized each other's potential, strength and weaknesses. You were able to compromise and work through challenges and conflicts because you gave each other feedback, value each other, and had each other's back. All those experiences and feelings, the good and the bad, happen in real classrooms. So how does PNA build and nurture a culture of collaboration in a classroom or a school of diverse learners? We intentionally build it with our students! We start our day with a morning meeting to create a stress-free atmosphere where everyone is welcomed and greeted. We explicitly teach children how to make eye contact and a friendly handshake. We create guidelines with the students and hold them accountable. Students had to learn what it looks like, sounds like, and feels like to solve problems together, to think critically together, and how to communicate by respecting each other’s ideas, strengths, and skills. In 4th/5th grade science, students created their own guidelines and practiced through an activity called The Cup Challenge. There were definitely different opinions when they started off but they were able to work through their conflicts and finished up celebrating together.
Research has shown that collaboration is one of the learning skills needed to succeed in the 21st century. At PNA, we don't just educate students to become independent thinkers, we also provide endless opportunities for learners to develop effective collaboration skills.
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Jessica GrahamMs. Graham graduated from the University of Alabama with a BS in Early Childhood/Elementary Education, and is currently working on her master's in reading. She enjoys hiking, traveling, arts & crafts, and playing the ukulele. Archives
April 2021
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