Good
relationship skills are very important.
Relationship skills include listening and communicating effectively,
advocating for oneself, and developing trusting, respectful friendships. The ability to resolve conflicts with others
and build healthy relationships with others is also a part of having good
relationship skills. In my classroom, I
support having good relationships with others using group work. I assign random groups for students to work
on math questions. This makes the
students work with others they might not know.
My group work rules include Total participation, being respectful and
kind to each other, and to help out a fellow mathematician. I tell the students it is ok to disagree with
a group member, but their tone and the way they communicate an opinion should be kind. I also encourage them to support each other and to ask their peers for
help when they need it.
