Col·lab·o·rate
əˌreɪtverb - to work, one with another; cooperate, as on a literary work.
lead verb, led, lead·ing, noun, adjective
verb (used with object)
1. to go before or with to show the way; conduct or escort: to lead a group on a cross-country hike.
2. to conduct by holding and guiding: to lead a horse by a rope.
3. to influence or induce; cause: Subsequent events led him to reconsider his position.
4. to guide in direction, course, action, opinion, etc.; bring: You can lead her around to your point of view if you are persistent.
How is America teaching students how to collaborate? Teachers often have group work where a problem is given and four to five students work to solve the problem utilizing methods previously learned. Groups are used to teach as a tutoring session for higher level classes as well. Group projects can be completed to teach collaboration. Much can be gained from utilizing group work to solve problems and teach others. I enjoyed carefully placing my students into groups to work out problems and communicate about situations in order to learn something on their own. While I walked around the room I could see a couple of students working, some writing, and others listening. For the most part everyone worked to some degree. There were several exceptions from students who had no desire to learn in the first place. I tried to encourage, but...
Homeschooling does not provide the opportunity to utilize collaboration much; or does it? In cooperative classes groups can be utilized to solve problems, work on teams, communicate with others near their own age, and sometimes with younger or older students. With my oldest daughter, I allowed her to do an 'internship' of sorts at a local nursery and greenhouse where the owner, Terri, would give her problems that she encountered each day in her business and allowed her to think them through and discuss. Honeysuckle Hill Gardens was a place for her to learn, work, and experience a real-life business. She collaborated with Terri, someone not her own age who had much more insight into problems in the real world that needed solved. Terri was her teacher, but she was also a collaborator. My daughter solved a few problems for her and pointed out a few problems and solutions of her own.
As a homeschooling mom, I also give my children real examples of problems that I have and allow them to discuss possible solutions to these problems, then I pose new questions and answers to figure. We collaborate multiple times per week.
Leadership skills are often needed in our world. When children are associated all day with peers, they often lack the leadership skills needed to make a significant difference in their school, community, state.... We often hear of bullying in our schools. This bullying is the leadership style with which our kids are too familiar. Leadership is not dictatorial if the definition is followed. How is our school going to bring out leadership abilities? Some kids are natural-born leaders, while others are definitely good followers. Organizations like Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, or American Heritage Girls will assist in developing leadership skills. These organizations utilize the older participants to teach and train the younger participants; this participation develops leadership. Adult leaders often turn over planning to the scouts.
Whether we home educate or not, ethical leadership and multi-faceted collaboration are essential skills for the real workplace and functioning as a decent member of society. A good leader is hard to find. Someone who can effectively collaborate with others is hard to find also - most want to have their own way and forget everyone else! Students need to have valuable experience in these two areas before leaving home.
What or how do you do to teach or train your child about collaborating? Leading?
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