How to Build A Team

The hardest good-bye from a group was my High School basketball team. I wish I could play with those girls for the rest of my life. A closing ritual I experience was the last game we played together. We really enjoyed each other as we traveled to the playoffs. It was the first year as a four time varsity player that I made it to the playoffs.

I imagine adjourning from the group of colleagues I have formed working on my master’s  degree in the Early Childhood field by taking their comments, work ethics, and wisdom with me. I have learned a lot of different things from my colleagues such as, job positions, ideas, and insights. Adjourning is an essential stage of teamwork because it reflects on the accomplishments and failures as well as determining if the group will take on another task. It’s the stage when most people have a dinner, say good bye or thank you.   

Conflicts

Think about any disagreements, or conflicts, you have recently experienced or are currently experiencing at work with a supervisor or colleague, or someone in your personal life. Share at least two strategies you have learned about that might help you manage or resolve the conflict more productively, and why these strategies might be effective. For example, could you suggest a compromise? Could you look for a broader range of solutions to your disagreement? Could you use some of the principles of nonviolent communication or the 3 R's to better help you resolve this conflict?

A disagreement I have had with a co worker was about the three year old teacher being lazy and not wanting to potty train children. I was trying to explain to the toddler teacher that the two year old classroom is a room set up for potty training. I explained to her why the three year old children needed to be potty trained before they could transition to the three year old classroom. The toddler teacher continued to say that the three year old teacher was just lazy and did not want to do any work. Not considering that three year olds still have accidents and the teacher has to help the children change their clothes when they have accidents. The two strategies that I learned this week and would use in this situation is challenging strategies and escapist strategies. Challenging strategies is when a person will stand up for what they believe is right without worrying about anxiety, guilt or embarrassment. Escapist strategies is when a person will prevent or avoid direct conflict because it my hurt the other person or the relationship. I chose these two strategies because I believe in standing up for what is right but I also don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. Understanding a knowing an individual you can see when the disagreement or conflict needs to be avoided. I could use the principles of nonviolent communication and the 3 R’s to help resolve the solution. I could try to explain the reasoning behind the potty training in the two year old classroom instead of the three year old classroom and hopefully we both can come to some agreement. If not, I will respect her thoughts about her issues with no potty training not being in the three year old classroom.      

Who am I as a Communicator??

Considering the two people who evaluated me from the assessments those two people thought highly of me more than I did myself. I thought it was surprising for one of the evaluators to consider me as more business like and a straight to the point type of person. I also found it surprising that I was considered as a people orientated person. The environment a person is in influences their ways of communication.

     
Communicating LOVE with a HUG!!!!!

Communicating Differently

• ·         Do you find yourself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures?

Yes, I communicate differently with people from different groups and cultures.

• ·         If yes, in what ways do you communicate differently?

I communicate differently with different groups and cultures by my tone of voices, facial expressions, and language. When I am at work I talk with other teachers differently than talking with a parent. With teachers I know well and are more comfortable around I would hold a conversation with them without being professional. Communicating with parents I always smile and try to always lead off a conversation with something positive. I feel comfortable around people who are more like me where I joke, laugh and have fun but when strangers or people different from me come around I seem to become serious.   

• ·         Three strategies you could use to help you communicate more effectively with the people or groups you have identified.

1.      Listen to what the other person or people are saying

2.      Try to understand what the other person or people are saying

3.      Speak in a clear, toned voice using correct language

Television Show Communication

Television Show: Home Improvement/ without sound

1.      What do you think the characters relationships are based on the ways in which they are communicating?

When the show start there is a man and woman in the living room communicating among one another and sense the woman had on a robe ironing clothes I figured they were husband and wife. There were also three little boys outside playing football and the way the father was engaging in playing with them I thought they were his children.

2.      What are they feeling and expressing based on the nonverbal behavior you are observing?

At the beginning of the show the lady seems like she is a little upset looking at her husband television show and see her husband watching other females. The husband seems like he is explaining himself using hand gestures. The children seem happy and joyful playing with their father. Although one little boy seem like he is upset about something and his father talks to him and the little boy begin to smile. The wife seems like she is unhappy when she goes out to dinner with the husband and she get up and walk away from the table.

With Sound

1.      What assumptions did you make about the characters and plot based on the ways in which you interpreted the communication you observed?

I was corrected about the man and woman being married with three boys. I made the assumption that the wife was upset with the husband looking at other woman but she actually made a bet and thought it was kind of funny.

2.       Would your assumptions have been more correct if you had been watching a show you know well?

I believe my assumption would have been more correct if I was watching a show I knew well because most shows have the same plot just different circumstances. Most shows that you watch often is based on the same themes such as, drama, horror, or comedy.  

Who demonstrates competent communication?

Someone who demonstrates competent communication within the early childhood field would be one of my teachers Ms. Flo. I really enjoy seeing her get into her advocate mode and tell everyone information about what’s going on in the early childhood field. She also will give you references or resources so you as an early childhood advocate can see it for yourself and take action as you feel. I can feel and see the passion she has for young children and how she really enjoy helping people become effective child care providers. She has worked in all aspects of the early childhood field from being a teacher, smart start program, director and now a teacher at a local community college. She communicates with people on a real, respectful and truthful way. I can just say, she tells you how it is. I would love to communicate some of her communication behaviors because I believe she is very effective and a real advocate for young children and families. She finds out things to help the parents she teaches to ensure the education and care of their children. Ms. Flo is a great person, advocate and communicator.