1. Building Small Groups for Growth and Learning
BY: Jorge H. Villamizar D.

2. Before …
You will know when your class is ready for tribes when they can answer this questions with YES .
1. Do they understand agreements?
2. Do they know each one for working in groups?
3. Can you identify LEADERS, FRENDSHIPS, and LESS POPULAR STUDENTS?
4. Do you have sucessful learning experiences while working in groups?

3. How to Build TRIBES ?
For Middle School level students the best groups range between 4 and 6 people.
Use the selection strategy of the 7 friends so that groips are equally distributed.

4. The 7 Friends
Give each person a index card, make them type their name and the name of 7 friends.
Tell students they will be with at least one identified friend

5. Selection … TRIBES Select 5 leader type people’s cards
Match each leader type with a negative behavior or quiet person
Add the remaining cards asuring that each one will have at least one of the requested friends and balancing boys and girls.

6. People Puzzle Begin with a poster one for each tribe
Design a kind of puzzle so that students have to search for the matching pieces to get to konow their tribes group.

7. Stranger Anxiety
To deal with stranger anxiety and differnces these strategies may work:
Wishful Thinking
I’m Proud Circle
Interview Circle

8. After … First Days
Stop
Look
Listen
Describe
Decide

9. Using the Time Out Reflection Circle
Ask “What is happening?”
Give time to Reflect
Ask for description of who people felt
Barinstorm ideas to change the situation
Decide what to do to improve things
Invite everyone to keep their purpose in mind

10. Conflict Resolution Both students agree to ground rules
Each tells his side of the story
The Problem is Re-stated
Steps 2 and 3 are repeated
Suggest possible solution
Agree on a balanced resolution

11. I-Messages
It is imporant to midddle school students to speak in first person because it doesn’t hurt the others fellings as if we were talking in third person which passes the responsability and guilt to the other person.

12. Issues This may be discused to find a possible solution:
Too much “I pass”
I don’t like my tribe
What about the new kid
Hey, that’s a put down
Let’s form new tribes

13. Let’s talk Define the problem, situation or concern Repeat
Think it through
Consider Both Sides
Decide and Act
Evaluate and Outcome

14. Setting goals and individual contracts
Goal Storming
Share
Journal and record results

15. Fin
Chapter 9 – TRIBES Book