Tribes

"Resilience research demonstrates that schools, and the people within them, have the power to transform young lives. The Tribes process shows educators exactly what they can do to provide the caring relationships, positive expectations, and opportunities for participation and contribution that promote positive youth development and successful learning."

~Bonnie Benard, Senior Program Associate
WestEd, Human Development Program
Oakland, CA

Tribe Agreements:

• Attentive listening
• Appreciation, no put downs
• Mutual respect
• The right to pass and participate

At Ho‘okele, faculty, staff and students are implementing the Tribe Learning Community, which helps establish a safe and caring learning and work environment. Tribes is process to help us achieve specific learning goals.

The students learn collaborative skills to help them work with team members in groups (tribes). The students focus on how to:

• help each other work on tasks
• set goals and solve problems
• monitor and assess progress
• celebrate achievements

Students achieve because they:

• feel included and appreciated by peers and teachers
• are respected for their different abilities, cultures, gender, interests and dreams
• are actively involved in their own learning
• have positive expectations from others that they will succeed

The clear purpose of the Tribes process is to assure healthy development of every child so that each one has the knowledge, skills and resiliency to be successful in a rapidly changing world.

Tribes in the Classroom

3rd grade students partake in a team building activity to practice effective communication.

3rd graders participate in a Tribes Energizer strategy called "Mirrors". The objective is for the leader to enable his/her partner to follow their actions. This helps students reflect on being a leader versus a follower.

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