Lesson 29

Extensions:

Synergy in Action

HANDOUT

Draw team:

Well, I don't really know what to do... A team is made up of people working together to achieve a goal that can not be reached, or it may take more time to reach, if it only took one person.

Family reflections:

How can members of your family help you achieve better results in school?

My parents could help me study for big tests by testing me, and they can give me suggestions of what to do on a project. Or, for example in math, I can ask my dad about a question I don't understand. They have been in this world longer than I have, so they have much more knowledge and I can gain a lot from them.

Lesson 28

Extensions:

1) Work out a "want" list with someone else for an agreement that you're trying to reach with someone. Then, make a list of possible "third alternative" solutions that would be good for both parties.

Their wants:
-Get her dishes done

My wants:
-finish my project

Their don't want list:

-be late for a tv show

My don't want list:
-stay up late to finish project

Third alternatives:

-my mom could help me a bit by cutting stuff up while I go wash her dishes

Family Reflections:

Are there any unresolved issues in your home that could use some synergy? Walk through the steps to synergy or see if you can come to a solution that makes everyone happy.

There aren't really any unresolved issues in my home, but the steps to synergy are important in solving problems in families.

Lesson 27

Extensions:

I am not really sure what to do about this... criticizing, complaining, comparing, competing... well they all have negative effects on synergy.
criticizing is not good any time, and it damages people's relationships
complaining is really annoying, because complaining about other's ideas isn't synergy, because you aren't excepting others opinions.
comparing isn't good either, because synergy is about putting together ideas, and not trying to see who's ideas are better.
Competing is definitely not good. What's the boint of working together if you are going to go against each other?

Family Reflections:

Choose a recent decision you and your family made that had everyone's input. Did you synergize or compromise?

A recent decision might be deciding whether I should quit figure skating or not (that was a few months ago, but my family doesn't really make huge decisions) We compromised, because I didn't want to quit skating, but my mom was worried that I wouldn't have enough time to do homework in highschool, and I thought thta was a reasonable reason too. So I said that if I quit skating, then they should give me more time on the computer (since I had more time to do work) and yea... it wasn't really a compromise, but the choice was one or the other, so I didn't have much to say. Whoever had the better reasoning won I guess.

Lesson 26

Extensions:

HANDOUT

1) Write down an important issue that you, your community, your school, or your family is facing right now. Maybe it's bullying at school, a dress code, or a community issue.

Issue/problem:

Well, I think a problem for the community would be taking care of the environment around us. We need to stop wasting so much water, energy, and stop producing so much waste.

Organize a group of four or five people to discuss the issue you chose. Individually, think of ways to improve or change the problem.

1. Fill in the thought bubbles below with the different solutions each of you come up with.

1) We can organise an old electrionics recycling event, to recycle old and broken electronics that would be very harmful if it ended up in the dump.

2) We can motivate people to not dump toxic things down the drain.

3) We can encourage people not to buy things with plastic wrappings, and always use re-usable bags, and not plastic bags.

4) We can remind people to always turn the tap off when they aren't using it.

2. Use your imagination to brainstorm new ideas.

We can motivate people by posting the amount of energy used each week, and when people see that their actions have done some good, they will feel like they have actually helped. We can also make some competitions for prizes, like who can plant the most trees, or who can use the least water that week.

3. Together decide which solution will make the biggest difference. Write your group's idea in the solution box

SOLUTION BOX.

I think we need more than one solution to THIS problem, because it is a very big problem right now, effecting the whole world. I think if people can use all of these ideas, the problem would not be worsened, if not lessened.

Family Reflections:

Is there anyone in your extended family that you could get along with better? What can you do to start making things better between the two of you?

I think I could get along better with my cousin, who is in grade four right now. He is sometimes okay, but half the time a real jerk. He really gets in my nerves. I think I could start explaining to him why I don't like the way he behaves sometimes, instead of just yelling at him (even though he sometimes really deserved that). After all, we do get along sometimes too. I could do more things that he liked, such as board games, and not just tell him to do his homework everytime he comes over.

Lesson 25

Extensions:

HANDOUT

Name:
Um... Not really sure what to do...

Family Reflections:

Decide as a family to model "clear communication" this week, in other words, attentively listening, using appropriate body language, and speaking calmly. Discuss with each other the difference clearly communicating made on your household.

Clear communication made us avoid a lot of misuderstandings, and made each other feel a lot more understood by each other. Clear communication is very important in a healthy relationship with your family members. Just small things like looking each other in the eye, and REALLY listen and not just hear what each other is saying. And to be calm and don't try to make yourself understood by shouting at each other. First you have to seek to understand the other person, then to be understood yourself.

Lesson 24

Extensions:

Nothing...

Family Reflections:

Review the effectiveness of Z's communication in the video. What are examples of the ways your family communicates with one another effectively? In what instances are your family's communications ineffective?

Z communicated really well to Nettie about her problems with her family, and he helped her feel better. To communicate better, we need to try to understand each other first, and we need to make the other person know that we understand, and that we are listening. Some examples of effective communication with me and my parents, are when I am very stressed out over a bunch of homework, and my parents decided to help me by doing some things that they can do such as cutting stuff out, and telling me that it's okay, and if I take things step by step, I will be able to finish. We listen to each other, and not just hear.

Lesson 23

Extensions:

Find a place where you'll see a lot of people. Based on what you are observing, how important is nonverbal communication?

For example, at the park, there are people laughing and playing. Non-verbal communication is, for example, laughing and smiling, because it gives people the impression that you're having fun, and words don't exactly express that the same way. Most of the people's communication is non-verbal, even though you here alot of verbal communication in busy places. People have to observe each other's expressions and hand gestures to get most of the info of what the other person is trying to communicate.

Family Reflections:

What are some of the nonverbal ways your family communicates, e.g.., body language & attitude? How do you all interpret those signals?

My family doesn't use hand gestures that much, but we can get a lot from our body posture, and our facial expressions. For example, if someone crosses their arms and looks the other way, they want to be left alone. If someone is laughing and smiling, then we go on making jokes. It is very often the little things, such as, if the person is avoiding eye contact, or looking straight at you. But mainly I think I interpret my family with mostly facial expressions. I use alot of hand gestures, but my parents really aren't very used to that, so the way someone is sitting or standing, or someone's attitude towards something is important. Well me and my parents have known each other for a long time, so it is really not that difficult to interpret these signs and signals.