I think that
when you are a part of a group/team in which there is excellent chemistry, it
is hard to say good-bye. It is not necessarily the high-performing groups that
are hardest to leave, but the ones in which everyone gets along, works well
together, accomplishes things, and have a closeness, such as a family bond. In
this kind of group/team, there is a great team leader.
The group/team I
left which was the hardest for me to depart was my team 6-2 Cluster. When I taught
6th grade, there were 2 teams (6-1) and (6-2). There was a teacher
for each subject and our students rotated to each of our classes daily. There
were 100 students. There were days when my team met to discuss our goal of
working very hard to make sure our students passed on to the next grade. We
laughed and cried together throughout the year, but in the end we achieved our
goal. To celebrate our accomplishments, the team leader set up a dinner for me
and the other two team mates. At this dinner, she recognized each of us
separately, and then as a group/team. We all reflected on our trials and
tribulations throughout the year and how things could improve for the next year. “The team leader should ensure that there is time for the
team to celebrate the success of the project and capture best practices for
future use” (Abudi,
2010). On
the very last day of work, our principal treated the entire faculty and staff
to lunch. At this lunch, he announced our “new” teams…The 4 of us looked at
each other with tears in our eyes as we learned that our team was being torn
apart.
As for
adjourning from my colleagues in this course, I do not think it will be hard to
say good-bye. I say this because I think it is much harder to say good-bye in
person with those I have actually had contact with face-to-face and bonded. I
enjoy working with my colleagues and when we say good-bye at the end of each
course, I feel a sense of accomplishment instead of sadness.
I think that
adjourning is an essential part of teamwork because it is a time for everyone
in that group to recognize others and to also be recognized. I think it helps
build confidence and a sense of accomplishment. It helps us to know that we
have achieved something and it is time to move on to the next thing.
References
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
.
I think it is awesome you had such an amazing experience as a 6th grade teacher. I also liked how your group planned to get together for dinner and celebrate such a great accomplishment. It is important for educators to reflect so to have that time and to reflect as a group I am sure, made the next year that much better. I would have been upset too if the team that you worked so hard with was being torn apart. Maybe you could look at it as the principal wanted you to share all your skills and ideas with other colleagues and he split you up to be a leader for others. I am sure it was for a positive reason rather than a negative. It is hard to see though when things like that first occur. I hope you were able to build a relationship with your new team members and had just as good of a year with them.
ReplyDeleteHi Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your comments about our Walden group. I feel that we all have worked so hard to achieve this goal and the discussions and blogs that have helped us along this journey have been wonderful. I agree with you adjourning helps to build confidence and a sense of accomplishment.
Hi Ashley,
ReplyDeleteYou suggest a very valid point with regards to bonding and saying good bye face to face when adjourning from our colleagues at Walden. It is true that even though we have shared many of our experiences in our discussion and blogs it still not as effective as working and communicating face to face.
Ashley,
ReplyDeleteIt is very true that it is hard to leave people you are close to and have build a stable relationship with. I have been apart of plenty of groups in my life and the one group that I shared that closeness with was when I was apart of a cheerleading squad. This was the only time I felt that I was among family and was able to accomplish so much in so little time. We trusted and respected each other a great deal and supported each other tremendously. I also agree that it is tougher to part ways with people you have encountered face to face. However, although I have not met any of you face to face, I will still feel sadness. I have learned a lot about each of you and will always wonder if you all have achieved your goals.
Latasha
Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is more difficult to leave a group that you have worked with in person, and that it will not be difficult to transition out of Walden when our time is complete. It has been great seeing many of the same faces and interacting with everyone over the course of our time here, but it is very different in the virtual world than it is in person. Although technology has come a long way in introducing things such as Skype and FaceTime as well as other video programs, it just is not the same as a fece-to-face conversation even with family. Thanks for sharing!
Amanda
Hi Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI too believe that it is more difficult to adjourn from a group that you connected with face to face than one that is distanced like our on-line class. This is my first on-line class so I am waiting to see if my assumptions will be correct,
It is always wonderful working with a team that shares the vision and has earned success. Whenever I lead a team I like to take time to reflect and celebrate. Even the most difficult team member is acknowledged for not quitting the team but sticking in. I think it helps the members to feel that their efforts are recognized and that always feels good.