Tribes is a research based process that creates a culture that maximises learning and human development. This process requires learning how to build a community through 3 stages of group development; Inclusion, Influence and Community. Whilst moving through these stages participants will demonstrate the 5 agreements; Mutual Respect, Attentive Listening, Appreciation/No Put Downs, The Right to Participate/The Right to Pass and Personal Best/Personal Responsibility (This final agreement has been added as schools felt that there was a lack of accountability within the agreements).
The Tribes Community Agreements
Attentive Listening: We will listen with our eyes, ears, bodies, hearts and minds.
Mutual Respect: We will treat people the way we want to be treated.
Appreciations/No Put Downs: We speak kindly to others and think of other people’s feelings.
Right to Participate/Right to Pass: We have the right to pass in certain activities, and know that the more we participate the more we gain.
Personal Best/Personal Responsibility: We are responsible for our own learning and our own behaviour.
Tribes Strategies
Tribes strategies are designed to create a culture for a community of learners; and the strategies are also ways to achieve learning objectives as well. The strategies can be found in the book Reaching All by Creating Tribes Learning Communities, written by: Jeanne Gibbs.
Energisers
Whilst working in groups people may periodically experience lower energy within their environments, concentration can become more difficult and students may become restless. At this point an energiser can be used to revitalize the group. Some of these can be found at the back of the book and they are also available in a boxed set.
Reflection
Invite the Pelican that soars over the Tribes Trail to be your constant companion. Her name is Reflection. She will tell you, rather immodestly, that she makes the Tribes process work well anywhere. At times, you will want to ignore her calls: “timeout,” “stop the action,” “time to reflect,” or “what’s happening now?” Reflection knows that if you watch from the bird’s eye view, classroom management goes more smoothly. Reflection is a wise bird who can describe just what she saw or hear while people are working together. You will find her questions on the pages of every Tribes strategy. Reflection clears up confusion and helps everyone soar to greater heights.
