FACS: Family Councils (Family)

Summary

Students will learn how to hold a family council and participate in a family council.

Materials

Handouts

Background for Teachers

THE FAMILY COUNCIL METHOD

The family council is an excellent method for family communication. It can be an effective way to promote family togetherness. Many decisions can be made. The method you choose, the time, and the place are not as important as just getting together to talk and listen.

Many important matters can be discussed. Planning and organizing are important. Rules should be established and everyone should agree to adhere to the decision made. Being positive and helping family members feel good about themselves are vital actions in building family communication and relationships.

Multiple viewpoints and/or differing opinions are frequently expressed about the same issue by different family members. This is simply because different individuals think differently even though they may be from the same family. Differing opinions should not be viewed as a confrontation even though they sometimes seem really strange. Some of the positive aspects (and points for discussion) about differing opinions and/or multiple viewpoints are:

• They are opportunities for us to develop intellectually

• The can make communication more interesting

• They can help us understand ourselves better

• They can help us identify what is important to us

• They can help us understand others better.

Family councils help promote family ties; family members working together, playing together, sharing good times and bad times, making family dreams come true, and developing a strong love for one another. It is worth giving it a try and seeing if it works for you and your family.

The teacher might remind the students that good communication skills are helpful in making group decisions. It is important to practice our speaking and listening skills so that we can be a better group/family member during decision-making sessions.

Student Prior Knowledge

Basic communication skills.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will know how to conduct a family council and better communicate with their families.

Instructional Procedures

Provide each classroom family with a copy of "The No-Name Family Council." Have each family read about how this family council was set up and answer the questions on the "The Family Council" worksheets. Then have each family establish their own council rules and practice having a family council using those rules. The teacher should give each family two of the "Family Council Concerns" to discuss in their family council and the worksheet "Our Family Council."

An optional activity you may wish to use is the "No Win-No Lose" worksheet.