EDUC 6165 Week 5

For this week’s focus topic we are exploring conflict resolution. I have am  currently experiencing a conflict in my classroom between myself and my co teacher. I started a new job roughly 2 months ago as a Kindergarten Prep teacher and it has been going well for the relationships I am building with the students and their families. However, with my co teacher we have had our fair share of disagreements about the overall classroom. The structure of the center is setup as each teacher is responsible for planning and implementing lesson plans. There is no such thing as a lead or assistant teacher. The center prefers using the term Co-Teacher instead.

My co-teacher has a very dominate personality and prefers things to go her way or no way. She has been at the center for 7 years but has been in the field for 16 years. I haven’t been in the field for as long as she has but this is not my first rodeo. I have pitched several ideas to her about things we can do or change within the classroom, but she has shut all of them down. So, basically all I do is assistant her in the classroom and engage with the students. This is totally opposite from the center’s expectations. For the most part I am a very understanding person and I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but for the situation I am at a totally lost. I understand that I am still new to the center but not new to the field. When I do start new teaching jobs, I have always been welcomed to make suggestions or changes to the classroom. I have not spoken to the director yet, because I feel as though we are adults and should try to work out things amongst ourselves first.

After reading through this week’s materials, I will try taking a different approach such as looking into cooperative strategies. O’Hair et. defines this strategy as a way serve mutual goals instead of individual goals (O’Hair, Wiemann, 2015). Which, would be compromising and finding a middle ground within our classroom task. Another helpful resource would be having a meeting with our director, to address the issues within our classroom. Based on the Third Side site, the third side is made up of both insiders (myself and my co-teacher) and the outsider (the director) (The Third Side, 2018).  Through this meeting the director will be able to seek understanding from both sides and provide resources or state and enforce the center’s expectations.

One thing I also would like to retry within the classroom is sticking to the curriculum schedule. If it is my week to implement the curriculum then I should complete all the required task and verse versa. I believe if we stick to the schedule, she would see that it is not as bad as it seems. Plus, it will give her a break from doing everything.

To my Colleagues: If anyone has been in a similar situation or have any advise to help me though this situation please feel free to share. At this point I am open to any and everything (besides quitting and finding a new job lol 😊)

References:

O'Hair, D., Wiemann, M., Mullin, D. I., & Teven, J. (2015). Real communication (3rd. ed). New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.

The Third Side.  (2018).  Mediator- reconcile conflicting interests.  Retrieved from https://thirdside.williamury.com/mediator/