“ Working in groups is like eating tofu. I’m told it’s good for me, but it makes me gag.” ( Rothwell , 2010)

1. “Working in groups is like eating tofu. I’m told it’s good for me, but it makes me gag.” (Rothwell, 2010) Tech Prep Workshop June 16, 2010 Beth Milby-Hawks All material in today’s session is located: Bethhawks.com

2. In the words of a fourteen year old… Homogeneous or heterogeneous groups?

3. Skills and Strategies for Effective Interactions in the Classroom. • Introduce concept of culture to students. • Introduce our students to their culture. • Introduce our students to their peer’s culture.

4. Moonwalking Bear

5. Introducing Culture • Why? • photo by frances1972

6. Draw a Scientist

7. “If You Can’t Explain it Simply, You Don’t Understand it Well Enough”–Albert Einstein • Lab Coat • White Hair • Glasses • Crazy Hair • Older • Male http://elementaryteacher.wordpress.com

8. Culture Defined • Non-Biological parts of life. • Anything created by humans. • Metaphors are a great way to enhance understanding of culture.

9. Tree • The visible part of the tree represents the visible parts of culture. • Not visible, the roots, determines what the tree will look like. • Invisible aspects of culture determines how people dress, when/how they eat, what they see as right and wrong, etc. • Tree Ring Activity! photo by ercan_baysal

10. Mental Software • People are “programmed” by their culture to think, act, feel in a certain way. • Opposed to computers though people do have individual personalities. • This programming happens outside of our awareness – most of the time we cannot articulate why we behave, or think the way we do. • “A Girl Like Me” Video

11. Girl Like Me

12. Iceberg • Only a small part of our culture is seen. • Larger unseen parts of our culture is what influences how we interact with the world around us. • Iceberg Activity! photo from What’s Up With Culture?

13. Strategies: • Features of Culture Worksheet: Iceberg • Tree Rings • “Have You Ever?” • Things You Have in Common • “The Story of my Name.” • Decorating Folder • Table Tents • Name Tags • Links on my website for all the above activities!

14. NBC’s “The Office” • Conflict Resolution

15. Vent Session • Take your candy piece and find the other people here who have the same type of candy and form a small group. • Pick someone in your group who will write down the ideas generated. • Take turns sharing ideas about how you handle small group conflict in your classrooms. Write down the ideas. • Choose the best idea and we will share.

16. “Trying to solve a problem through group discussions is like trying to clear up a traffic jam by honking your horn.”~Anonymous Conflict Minimizes Small deadlines Accountability Grades given for the smallest details Signature of all final decisions More accountability

17. Review… • Explain the concept of culture. • Metaphors • We do not have to agree in order to work together. • Introduce students to their own culture. • Activities! • Introduce students to their peer’s culture. • Use color/shapes, candy pieces, or cut-up cartoon pieces to put students into random groups and share. • Remember the conflict minimizes!

18. References • Communication in Everyday Life. • Steve Duck and David T. McMahan • Culturally Teaching. Education across cultures. • http://culturallyteaching.com • Introduction to Intercultural Communication: Identities in a Global Community. • Fred Jandt • Intercultural Competence: Interpersonal Communication Across Cultures • Myron Lustig and Jolene Koester • Media That Matters: “A Girl Like Me” • http://www.mediathatmattersfest.org/ • The Office: “Conflict Resolution” • NBC.com