teamWORK

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teamWORK
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Why teamwork?

• One of the best ways to improve communication
  skills in high school students is to involve them
  in team-building activities.
• It will help the students interact with each
  other, and at the same time, enhance their
  communication skills.
• Team building is a way to teach students to
  efficiently work with a diverse group to solve a
  problem or complete a task.
• It requires communication skills and the ability
  to compromise as well as support others.
• From Team Building Activities to Improve Teen
  Communication by Dr. Patricia Fioriello on
  February 2, 2010. http//highschoolmediator.com/
  team-building-activities-to-improve-teen-communica
  tion/

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teamWORK

• For a team to perform as a whole, it needs a
  common vision and thought.
• A team that consists of people from diverse
  backgrounds will also have conflicting ideas and
  opinions. This is when strengthening the bond
  between team members is very important to achieve
  a common goal.
• Team bonding activities are essential to bring
  this feeling of oneness. Such activities not only
  foster a feeling of togetherness they also add
  more excitement and pep up the energy levels of
  people. Members of a team learn to handle things
  together and are able to develop their skills.
• The whole process of team bonding is to ensure a
  close-knit group of people who are motivated and
  encouraged to perform with a sense of commitment.
  
• In professional organizations in particular, team
  bonding activities even enhance performance
  levels when employees feel motivated about their
  work. More and more organizations are using these
  ideas to boost productivity.
• From Team Bonding Activities by Kashmira Lad at
  http//www.buzzle.com/articles/team-bonding-activi
  ties.html

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Composition of a Team

• Team building works best when the students are
  randomly divided into teams or a team is created
  by the teacher.
• The group assignments should consist of students
  with different strengths and students who are
  also not too familiar with each other.
• This will encourage the students to work and
  learn from individuals with different skills
  while solving a problem.
• Team-building activities gear up the teens and
  should be designed to help students learn skills
  that improve their ability to work cooperatively
  with others.
• From Team Building Activities to Improve Teen
  Communication by Dr. Patricia Fioriello on
  February 2, 2010. http//highschoolmediator.com/
  team-building-activities-to-improve-teen-communica
  tion/

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Building Blind

• Students work in pairs or triads. One student is
  designated as the leader the other students
  are the builders. The leader has visual access
  to a simple structure (made of Legos, tinker
  toys, or similar items), but the builders do not.
  
• Each group also has a box of building materials
  identical to those used to make the hidden
  structure.
• The task is for the team to duplicate this
  structure under two conditions the builders
  cannot see the original structure, and the leader
  cannot touch the original structure or any of the
  building materials.
• The leader must direct his teammates using verbal
  cues only. This forces the leader to be precise
  in the directions he gives and forces the
  builders to use listening skills and follow
  instructions exactly.
• Read more at Suite101 Team Building Activities
  for Teens Group and Classroom Games to Promote
  Communication Skills Suite101.com
  http//www.suite101.com/content/team-building-acti
  vities-for-teens-a34157ixzz1Xsj8FYGq

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Directions, Directions

• Students work in groups of 4-6. One person
  starts, identifying and performing a small task
  (i.e. Clap hands three times).
• The next person repeats and performs the same
  tasks, then adds on one of his or her own (i.e.
  Clap hands three times, stick out tongue).
• Play continues around the group, with each person
  performing and adding a new task to the mix.
• Students who cannot complete the sequence
  correctly are out until the next round.
• This game requires students to follow directions,
  focus, listen carefully, and utilize memory
  skills.
• Read more at Suite101 Team Building Activities
  for Teens Group and Classroom Games to Promote
  Communication Skills Suite101.com
  http//www.suite101.com/content/team-building-acti
  vities-for-teens-a34157ixzz1Xsj8FYGq

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After the activity

• An important part of team building exercises is
  participants' reflection and discussion about the
  activity, how they approached the situation, and
  possible points of learning.
• From Introduction to Team-Building Activities by
  James Neill at http//wilderdom.com/games/TeamBuil
  dingExercisesAbout.html

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Ways to incorporate teamWORK into yearbook and
journalism

• Ceremony
• Weekly games
• Food
• Photographer, Designer, Reporter
• Double up

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Dont forget!

• The whole process of team bonding is to create a
  close-knit group of people who are motivated and
  encouraged to perform with a sense of commitment.