Tag: groups

Final Episode™: Resolving Conflicts Through Communication, an Engaging Learning Experience for High School Students

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Bored, Uninterested Teenagers Become Engaged, Empowered, Knowledgeable, and Skilled

The first thing that sparked my bored, mistrusting high school class during “Final Episode™: Resolving Conflicts Through Communication” was showing them a segment from a popular family drama TV series. Heads popped up and eyes engaged with the screen as if to say, “Cool. Are we going to study this?” Well…yes, in a way…

This image shows the cover of the "Final Episode" resource for high school students.

Resolving Conflicts Through Communication Lesson Without Lecture

This image shows an example of what's included in the Final Episode resource. It is a picture of the "Organizing the Final Episode Worksheet."

In the activity, each student assumes the role of a family drama TV series scriptwriter. To prepare for their scriptwriting, instead of a lecture about resolving conflicts through communication, the students tackle a document-based-questionnaire (DBQ).  In small groups, they safely explore conflict and conflict resolution – what it is, why we get into it, and what we can do about it.

When it got to the scriptwriting, with heads down, students diligently worked away on their conflict resolving scenarios and scripts for their “network’s” series finale.

But That Wasn’t the Best Part…

The best was when they read their scripts to their classmates while being videotaped. Complaining and withdrawing at first, once complete, students reveled in seeing their onscreen performances.

And even better for me were their reflections on their Final Episode™ experience. They told me they liked the activity and learned ways to realistically implement what they learned in their relationships. Score!

This image shows another handout included in the Final Episode resource. It is a picture of the "Final Episode Reflection Worksheet."

A DBQ For Mental Health Skill Building?

This image shows the cover of the "Final Episode" resource that helps students learn how to resolve conflicts through communication.

Final Episode™ uses “documents” including artwork, cartoons, letters, book quotes, magazine articles, and posters. Students found that it was a terrific way to, not only learn about conflict and ways to resolve it, but the items illustrated how there’s a myriad of “documents” out there to learn from.

If I Told My Students They Were Going to Perform, They’d Walk Away

The Final Episode™ activity gradually walks students first through the process of developing a scenario and a script. Performance is the last piece of the experience and can be approached at that time. But, like I found, students might initially resist but eventually come around.

I Don’t Have Time To Do All This

The Final Episode™ resource is perfect for chunking. The work can be spread out over a number of days or weeks. And you won’t have to worry. Students will look forward to getting back to their Final Episode™!

Don’t Take my word for it. See for yourself how this resource won top honors from the NYS education department!

Prepare Students to Work in Groups with this Fun Classroom Management Activity

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Hate Working in Groups?

A student I know hated working in groups.  It made them feel uncomfortable and worthless. One group member always took charge, boss others around and no one challenged the domineering leader.  The groups usually got the project done but not without a lot of stress to their mental health with bad feelings and angst about working together— not only for the student but for everyone else except for you know who. What was missing was preparation for classroom management with groups.

Then, in a group activity, the student learned a way to prepare to work in groups and resolve conflicts before they can happen.

Prepare to work in groups to resolve conflicts before they happen

Enter “What’s Your Style?™” – Classroom Management with Groups

What's Your Style? is a fun and engaging classroom management activity

In the What’s Your Style?™ activity, the student discovered the “social styles model.” With this information and social emotional skills, things changed. The student not only learned why bossy members did what they did but also why the student did what they did and why. Since their encounter with What’s Your Style?™, the student – now in the workforce — approaches working in groups with confidence, knowledge, skills, compassion, and tolerance.

A Classroom Management Activity?

Yes, classroom management with groups is best accomplished through activities that engage students (see another here). With minimal lecture, What’s Your Style?™ helps students learn about the model through a fun group performance exercise. In addition, they assess their peers’ presentations and individually reflecting on their learning.

It’s so Hard to Get Students to Work Together These Days

With the What’s Your Style?™ activity, students first practice with like-minded peers. Once they learn the model, students are made aware of their own strengths. Furthermore, they learn the strengths of their peers with differing ideas. This then illustrates how teams or groups of mixed strengths and developing characteristics acquire more problem solving success.

No Time? Little Funds?

See for yourself!
prepare to work in groups and resolve conflicts with What’s Your Style?™
YOUR students will thank you for And what could be better than that?!

How to Get Along with Others

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Building a Circle of Community

Just about everywhere – school, work, families, neighborhoods – we have to work and get along with others. If conflict is kept to a minimum, everyone “gets along” better. And the group, team or committee accomplishes its goal more effectively and efficiently. But key to this effectiveness and efficiency is knowing “how” to work together. Often, we’re expected to do this with no instruction or guidance. Teaching about keeping conflict to a minimum and get groups to their goal or “win” often lacks in education. My activity, Circle of Community™, shows teams how to work together to keep conflict to a minimum giving them a better chance of reaching their goals.

a picture of the Totem Animals used in the Circle of Community team building resource that helps students learn how to get along with others

Teamwork

A scene in Apollo 13 provides my favorite illustration of positive teamwork. The astronauts stranded in their capsule need to get back to earth. The NASA scientists and engineers work together to solve the problem. I enjoy challenges with a problem to solve. But not unless I do it with others. For me, there’s comfort in working on a team. I like offering my strengths to the group but I don’t have to know or do everything!  Where I lack certain knowledge or skills, other members’ strengths compensate.

Reducing Conflict and Bad Feelings

But thrown into groups, there’s an expectation everyone will get along. With no direction for how to deal with different personalities, ways of thinking and problem-solving methods, conflict and bad feelings arise.

A Way to Get Along While Working Together

Circle of Community™ helps groups bypass conflict and bad feelings by showing them a way to work together. The activity provides a fun and easy way to build communication skills by assessing each member’s strengths and challenges. By understanding why members do or say what they do, inner team conflict decreases paving a solid road to their business of problem solving.

Circle of Community™ is an activity that works to build community within groups, teams, families, etc. It provides a playful way to learn about each other’s strengths and challenges, illustrating how working together and getting along is an effective strategy for solving problems and attaining group goals.

The activity is for teachers, trainers, Human Resources, parenting educators, parents or any teams or groups working together in for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Every team needs Circle of Community™!

click here to Get Circle of Community™ at “teachers pay teachers”