1. W ORKING IN T EAMS WITH C AREGIVERS

2. O BJECTIVES Identify characteristics of effective teams Distinguish useful and dysfunctional communication strategies Identify strategies for sharing team responsibilities Assess the effectiveness of your own team practices 2

3. W HAT ’ S M Y A TTITUDE ? 3 Individually, complete the statements on pages 8-9 in your TB. Share with a partner. The attitude we bring to the caregiving environment profoundly affects the relationships we have with children, parents and team members! Now complete your Team’s Attitude on page 10-11 in TB.

4. T HE G OAL IS R ELATIONSHIPS “In infant-toddler group-care settings, the goal is to build strong, supportive relationships between caregiver and child, between caregiver and parents, and among caregivers themselves; these relationships can then support the vital relationships between parent and child.” ---Tender Care and Early Learning, p. 296 4 We don’t get to choose who we work with! Attitude is not fixed-- We make a choice about it!

5. I T T AKES A T EAM TO M AKE A B ABY ! Make a Baby out of the materials on the table. Write on a note card: 1. Your baby’s name 2. Your baby’s age, temperament, likes and dislikes 3. How to take care of your baby As a group, share your feelings, hopes and dreams for your baby. 5 Even though these babies are made out of socks and nylons, you each contributed your thoughts and ideas of who this baby is and you all have strong feelings about the care of him/her!

6. T EAM E XPERIENCES 1. What enjoyable group or team experiences have you had throughout your life? 2. What made these experiences memorable? 3. What characterized the group’s/team’s interaction styles? 4. How did the groups/teams deal with disagreements and conflicts? 6

7. O UR T EAM D EFINITION Based on everyone’s team experiences, let’s define a successful team? 7

8. T EAM E LEMENTS Small number of people --- 2 to 6 Complementary skills Common purpose and goals Common approach Mutual accountability 8

9. B ENEFITS OF A T EAM 1. What are the advantages of working together in teams? 2. Why is teamwork an essential element of high quality experiences for infants and toddlers? 9 Working as a supportive adult team reflects the kind of supportive relationships we strive to have with our children and families. Our work as caregiving teams is one clear way to provide continuity of care for infants and toddlers. Children learn that they can count on the same supportive interactions from the adults who care for them.

10. T HE C AREGIVING T EAM Remains together from one year to the next Meets for daily team planning Practices open communication Makes joint decisions Observes children throughout the day Discusses, interprets, and records child observations, using the key developmental indicators as a guide Plans ways to support individual children 10

11. C URRENT T EAM S TRENGTHS  With a partner, turn to page 15 and discuss the current strengths of your team.  Discuss as a whole group. 11

12. W HAT IS O PEN C OMMUNICATION ? 12

13. F OUR C OMMON C ONVERSATIONAL S TYLES 1. Blaming 2. Placating 3. Computing 4. Distracting 13

14. W HO A M I? 14 Placater

15. R OLE P LAY THIS S CENARIO As a person who is a Placater, respond to this scenario about your co-caregiver: A child was sick and threw up and they were suppose to clean it up. 15

16. 16 W HO A M I? Blamer

17. R OLE P LAY THIS S CENARIO As a person who is a Blamer, respond to this scenario about your co-caregiver: A child was sick and threw up and they were suppose to clean it up. 17

18. 18 W HO A M I? Distracter

19. R OLE P LAY THIS S CENARIO As a person who is a Distracter, respond to this scenario about your co-caregiver: A child was sick and threw up and they were suppose to clean it up. 19

20. 20 W HO A M I? Computer

21. R OLE P LAY THIS S CENARIO As a person who is a Computer, respond to this scenario about your co-caregiver: A child was sick and threw up and they were suppose to clean it up. 21

22. L EVELERS 22

23. C OMMUNICATION S TYLES R OLE P LAY In groups of 3, turn to page 19 and role play this team meeting scenario according to the instructions. Discuss responses to each role as a whole group. 23

24. L EVELERS P RACTICE THE A DULT C ONFLICT R ESOLUTION STEPS 1. Approach calmly. 2. Acknowledge adults’ feelings. 3. Exchange information. 4. Look at the problem from the child’s viewpoint. 5. Restate the problem. 6. Generate ideas for solutions and choose one together. 7. Be prepared to follow up the problem. 24 Acknowledging your own and other’s feelings is critical. If you skip this step, adults in conflict tend to give lip service to the problem solving process, but the problem never gets resolved and comes back!

25. P RACTICE C ONFLICT S CENARIO In pairs, turn to page 21 and role play the conflict scenario using the 7 steps. Discuss as a whole group. 25

26. S HARING T EAM R ESPONSIBILITIES Makes joint decisions about Space and materials Schedules and routines Roles and responsibilities 26 Turn to page 22-23. With your group follow the instructions about making decisions as a team. (Use pgs 24-25 to help)

27. H OMEWORK Please read pages 26-28 on the Stages of Team Development. Then complete page 29 on your teams current development. We will be discussing this topic first thing in the morning. 27

28. L ET ’ S T ALK A BOUT Y OUR B ABIES 28 It is for these reasons that we must practice primary caregiving, continuity of care, and supportive caregiving relationships!

29. T EAMWORK IN Y OUR O WN S ETTINGS 1. Get with others who are from your setting. 2. Turn to page 30. 3. What will you… Start Continue Stop 29

30. T EAMWORK I MPLEMENTATION P LAN Turn to pg 31. Think about our topic on working as teams and begin to make plans to strengthen your role in your team. 30

31. S TAGES OF T EAM D EVELOPMENT 1. Forming – Orientation Stage 2. Storming – Dissatisfaction Stage 3. Norming – Resolution Stage 4. Performing – Production Stage 31

32. S TAGES G RAPH 32 Once we become familiar with these stages, we can anticipate and welcome them (rather than dread and fear them) knowing they lead to effective team work!