As we come to the end of this eight weeks, I wanted to say thank you to all of my classmates. You have all been so supportive and really pushed me to think in different ways. I wish you all the very best of luck in your continued education! Keep up the GREAT work!
-Melanie

Five Stages of Team Development

The five stages of team development are; forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. In the adjourning stage, the project is coming to an end and the team members are moving off into different directions (Abudi, G., 2010).

For me, groups in which there is positive interaction, high performance, and honest communication are the hardest groups to leave. These groups become sort of a family unit in which you are all working together to complete a common goal. Groups that are the easiest to leave are the groups in which not every member pulls their own weight, there are negative interactions, and low performance.

Thinking back to groups I have worked in, there have been no clear closing rituals besides presenting our information or project and thanking each other for their work. In groups that are successful and positive, I would like to get together after the fact in a more casual setting and discuss things other than the project.

At the end of the Masters program, I believe that I will thank the colleagues I have worked with for helping me on this important journey. It is harder in this context because everything has been online, and I have not met anyone in person.

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

Since the start of the school year, I have been experiencing some conflict with my Principal regarding one of my students and how they are handled. To this date, the student has physically hit me four times, thrown scissors, rocks, and other objects at me, ran out the door of the classroom and down the hallway towards an exit door, and many other things. I have gone to my principal on a daily basis asking for help with this student since none of the strategies I have incorporated seem to be helping the negative behavior. When the behavior occurs, very little is done besides having him sit in the office for 15 minutes and then sent back to class. Each time I go to my principal for help, I am met with very little help, no sympathy, and no constructive ideas. This is very frustrating for me, and in turn I have gone to others asking for help.

            Some strategies that I have tried are to play Devil’s advocate and bring up the scenario of this student hurting another student in the classroom. I try to make my principal realize that this is not a chance that can be taken, and even though the physicality has only been limited to me so far, it’s only a matter of time before it’s directed at someone else. I also bring up the fact that because of this negative behavior occurring on a daily basis, he is requiring so much of my focus and attention, that the other students are not getting the attention that they need and deserve, and it’s also only a matter of time before I start getting behind in curriculum because of the constant need to stop lessons and correct behavior. Another strategy I have tried is to be open and cooperative with parents, and try to work together for a positive outcome. This has been a challenge because the parents seem to be in denial about their child’s behavior.

            I ask you, my colleagues, what would you do in this situation? What other strategies could I try? It as been a very stressful and exhausting year already, and I am open to any comments and suggestions. Thank you!