TRIBES

The Tribes program assures the healthy development of every child so that each has the knowledge, skills and resiliency to be successful in our rapidly changing world.

TRIBES is a democratic group process, not just a curriculum or set of cooperative activities. The "process" is a sequence of events that leads to the achievement of and outcome. The outcome of the TRIBES process is to develop a positive environment that promotes learning and human growth. This requires learning how to build community environment using five agreements among the students and adults with whom they are working.

Community Agreements:

Attentive listening

Acknowledge the person who is speaking with full attention and eye contact. Withholding one's own comments, opinions, and need to talk at the same time. Pain attention not only to the words but also to the feelings behind the words.

Appreciation- no put downs

Foster a positive climate

The right to pass

Each person has the right to choose the extent to which they will share in a group activity. The right to remain quiet and to be an observer for a short period of time.

Mutual respect

Everyone is assured of that their individual cultural values, beliefs, and needs will be considered and properly honored.

Use "I" messages when responding to others

Does not convey judgment, nor is it a put down.

Throughout the process students learn to use specific collaborative skills and to reflect both on the interaction and the learning that is taking place. the TRIBES process facilitates cooperative learning and provides structure for positive interaction and continuity for working in groups in the classroom. This spirit of cooperation then affects overall student behavior. Due to the fact that the students have more tools with which to communicate properly, there are fewer conflicts in the classroom, during recess, and lunchtime. Rules for student behavior are posted in the classroom as a way to reinforce safety and TRIBES community agreements.