As We Adjourn...

As we adjourn from the core aspect of our Master's program, I have mixed feelings.  On the positive side I have learned so much and feel so much more empowered regarding what I know, where EC research is going, and what we have yet to learn.  On the less positive side, I am unhappy to be loosing those with whom I've worked so closely for so long... (sniff, sniff).  I have made some significant life decisions of late, one of which was to accept a 6th grade teaching position at one of our local elementary schools.  The situation was grim when I entered, so I have been over my head with the demands of the position.  Coincidentally, this communication class has been so helpful and applicable to working with 12 year olds.

In order to handle it all, I think I will need to postpone my specialization until June, when the el school I work in adjourns for the summer.  I may also see if I can change my specialization from administration, leadership and management to teaching adults.  I have a lot to think about, so we will see.

Best of luck to you all.  Thank you for all of your support, sharing your knowledge and experiences so that we all learn even more.  Please stay in touch.  If I can be of help in future collaborations please let me know.

With gratitude and kindest regards,

Dot Breeden

The Adjournment of a Well Functioning Group

The first time I had ever heard of the stages of group development: "Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjouring" (Adapted from O'Hair and Wiemann, 2012, pp. 278) was from my daughter who participated in a month long NOLS course, the summer of 2010, at the age of 14 years.  Although none of the group members knew one another prior to forming, by the end of the course they had successfully become a "high functioning group" (Adapted from O'Hair and Wiemann, 2012, pp. 278).  When the time for adjournment came, the inter-relationships of the group were deep.  Saying good bye to one another was not without a significant number of tears, and for Kira it included about 6 weeks of a deep sense of loss and grief... to the point where I was concerned about her health and well being.  The group has remained close through Facebook.  If grief, loss, and sadness are part of the adjournment process of a high-functioning group, that Kira's group was by definition a high functioning group.