Adjourning Phase

                                                   

Thinking back, one of the times where I had the hardest to say goodbye was working as the teacher with two other girls (t.a's) which we made the best team in the center when working with the kids and together. Each one of us had our own strengths and weaknesses but we were there to support one another, read our body language and know what each other needed. The funny thing was that we were the only team out of four others that did not have any issues with each other and was not sitting in the director's office every other day. We worked together for a whole year until the director decided to split us up. We were all in shock and did not know how to react or say. I told the director why had she decided to break up the best team and all she said was to strengthened the others so I got two totally new T.A.'s the next year. I wish sometimes that things could have been handle differently.

When I started this journey of getting my Master's, and especially on line, I did not know what to expect. Now as I reflect, I have learned so much from everyone I had some sort of communication and dialogue. I think it will be different for me leaving a group whom I have learned and seen other perspectives from. It has been an amazing ride.

For me adjourning is essential because is where as a team can look back and celebrate what has been accomplished and move on to a new phase. No matter what paths each one takes team members will be connected one way or another.

                                                   

Disagreements or Conflicts

Throughout my professional life, I have been part of several disagreements with co-workers and also conflicts. Each one of them has helped enhance my problem solving and conflict resolution skills and take them to a new level. I have come to understand that in a work area not everybody practices the same work ethics as yourselves; therefore there will be co-workers who will challenge you at some point. Nevertheless, as I learned this topic this week, I am experiencing some conflicts with a co-workers in this case my teacher assistant. The conflict is about home visits. I had explain her a month ago how I would like conference week to go, for example: giving the parents the options to do them in their homes or the center, however,  if they are at their homes I would like for her to be at the center since I am taking our family service rep with me that way we get both parts in one visit. I also explained to her that I will have a to do list for us to do during this time and the conferences who are at the center, she was welcome to sit on them and if there is any input related to the children to please tell me. She agreed and we left it at that with no problems. Little did I know, she had turned around my words and had gone to a supervisors regarding the matter. The supervisor called me to discuss the matter. She started asking me about the program and how every teacher do have their own ways of doing conferences, she asked why I took my family service support instead, honestly I felt as if I was being interrogated. So I remember about the 3 R's strategies and how important they are in this cases no matter if they are absolutely don't make sense since the supervisors is for the early learning programs Head Start and ECEAP. I listened to her very well, let her finished and with respect and professionalism I stated all my answers to her questions with logical sense and with the program expectations of the teacher and their assistant. Our conflict ended by her understanding what my position as a teacher  is and how I think the best way to deal with a conflict is letting me know before hand of her problem regarding home visits. I sat down with my T.A. and acknowledge her feelings and also mu point of view.

When dealing with problems like these ones, I reflected on how I talked to her and realize that I was very respectful and professional about it. I wanted to make sure, I had not done any wrong doing but I realize that her perceptions were way off and needed some assurance.