The Power of the Situation:

Social psychology research, however, reveals that across many situations, among most individuals, behavior is more a function of situation than personality....If we align situational variables correctly, they cause people to be helpful, cooperative, considerate, and kind. ~ (Kagan & Kagan, 2009)

Benefits of Teambuilding & Classbuilding

*brain friendly--aligns with how we learn best

*an investment to create a positive learning environment

*promotes a safe and supportive class environment

*builds social skills and character virtues

* takes 3-10 minutes

Our Story

Our district took the Kagan Collaborative Training about eight years ago, but three years ago Amy proposed to our ENG II and ENG III teams that we purposefully build time into the weekly schedule for class building activities. We agreed to collaborate on a team drive with a Google document and resources. We have found the results from regular and purposeful implementation of community building to be positive and effective, but we wanted to hear from our students. Here is our feedback:

Potential Pitfalls

There are surprisingly few, but here is what to avoid:

*Competition

*Be careful with content. (What you think of as innocent might be misconstrued by the technology filters.)

*Use a timer--students will want to keep going and going.