The I in TEAM?

Posted by Nicki Peasley Share Your Voice

On Tuesday, our Leaders as Learners walked into their 6th grade classrooms with a learning plan focus on competition and collaboration. Students were divided into 4 teams and each team was given a bag of materials (each bag heavy with one of the following materials: foil, wooden sticks, tape, cups).  The Challenge-- build the tallest free standing tower possible. 

There was frenzied excitement in the air.  The students quickly recognized that the materials were unevenly distributed and competetive juices were stirred.  There was frustration and aggression and resignation... and it was beautiuful.  Why?  Because in the midst of what appeared to be a failed exercise (only one team was able to complete a tower), students learned about themselves and how they show up in teamwork.

Over the chaos, I posed the question, "What would be possible if you all shared your materials?"  Lightbulbs lit up around the room, "We could do that?"  With that revelation, the student pooled their resources and... more frustration, aggression, and resignation surfaced.  But underneath was a sense of liberation-- the students began to embrace the notion that the learning was in the process, not the product. 

In our debrief, the students explored how "thier I" showed up in TEAM.  And, through this seemingly inconsequential exercise in room 123 at Moody Middle School in Richmond, VA... we uncovered the key to world peace--LISTENING.  Yes, that's it. Whether building a tower out of popcicle sticks or ending a war, LISTENING is the most valuable tool we have.  And it takes A LOT of practice....

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Nicki Peasley I am the CEO of my home, managing a team consisting of a 40 year old, an 11 year old, an 8 year old, and a 6 year old. In my spare time, I am the YOUth development director for Bounce, writing curriculums and working (playing and learning) with elementary and middle school youth.