We Came Together as a TEAM but We Are Leaving as a FAMILY

We came together as a TEAM

We have put our heads together as a TEAM

We brainstormed as a TEAM

We executed our plan as a TEAM

and have successfully completed the task as a TEAM

We are now entering the ADJOURNING STAGE as a TEAM

In this final stage of group development, members prepare to say goodbye. The main goals of the Adjourning stage are to achieve closure and end on a positive note (Project Arrive, 2020). In the adjourning stage, most of the team’s goals have been accomplished. The emphasis is on wrapping up final tasks and documenting the effort and results. Group members need time to reflect on their individual participation and growth. It is also important to recognize the growth, progress, and achievements of the group as a whole. As the workload is diminished, individual members may be reassigned to other teams, and the team disbands. Group members may feel a sense of loss and their motivation may decline when the group's work comes to an end. Some observers have even called this the "mourning stage" of group development. It is, therefore, important to recognize the group members for their accomplishments and celebrate the group's overall success (Adjourning Stage of Group Development: Definition & Explanation, 2015).

There may be regret as the team ends, because bonds and friendships have developed, sometimes even with that one person you couldn’t stand in the beginning. All of that time together, day in and day out, and you’re going to miss these people. This is a time to celebrate all that’s been accomplished, so a ceremonial acknowledgement of the work and success of the team can be helpful. Planning a celebration or ritual that fosters closure as well as excitement about the future may be an excellent way to bring the group to an end.

For me I think the hardest part of being in group is leaving my teaching family. We have built more like a family bond looking after each other's needs, providing empathy, a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear for venting, sharing food, talking about our families and our hopes for the future. We have learned about each other's temperament, and talents, and we value each others opinion. We have had our ups and downs, however we can still count on each. It is rewarding to know that we made it through another year together, and have hopefully helped our students and families in the process of moving on into public school.

We end our year buying a week's worth of Dollar Tree items that we place in each other's mailbox each day with thank you cards much like Teacher Appreciation Week, and on the last day of school we have a catered luncheon. Although we can not all eat together at the same time it is our last meal together.

As school ends everyone has plans for the summer and although the summer break is short the idea of not see those familiar faces each morning saddens me. Some may not even return.

My plan for the adjourning from the group of colleagues that I have have formed while working on my master's degree in this program is hopefully sending them a video message thanking them for their knowledge and support throughout our coursework and wishing them the best in their future endeavors.

Here's a short video on adjourning.

References

Adjourning stage of group development: Definition & explanation. (2015, September 26). https://study.com/academy/lesson/adjourning-stage-of-group-development-definition-lesson-quiz.html.

Cicdl. (n.d.). Adjourning. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8ak69Xu3T_o

Project Arrive. (2020, August). Adjourning stage. http://sites.gsu.edu/project-arrive/adjourning-stage/