Getting Started:
Processes That Support a Leadership
Experience
It is not just “what” girls do, but also “how” they do it that
will make their experiences in financial literacy and STEM programming
impactful. Integrated into the activities (what girls do), the
three Girl Scout processes of “girl-led,” “learning by doing,”
and “cooperative learning” (how girls do it) create an environment
of fun and friendship, drive the quality of the experience, and
enable the development of leadership skills. To ensure that your
group of middle school girls has a high-quality and fun learning
experience, integrate the three processes into all activities!
Girl-Led
Being “girl-led” is just what it sounds like—coaching the girls
to drive the planning, decision making, learning, and fun as
much as possible.
Middle school aged girls are ready, and want to take on more responsibility.
They want to feel like they are making their own decisions and
choices. For example, you can:
Encourage girls to think about what other activities they might
like to do. Do they want to take a trip? Meet a professional?
(You can easily mix and match the sequence of activities based
upon the interests of the girls!)
And...
Let girls imagine, plan, organize, and implement their own projects
with as little supervision as possible (you will want to assist
them in thinking through the scale and scope of the projects,
and guide them to realistic decisions based on time and resources).
By standing back and letting girls create their own experiences,
you give girls the opportunity to feel more ownership of their
group and experience and have more fun.
Learning by Doing (or
Experiential Learning)
As girls "do," they also need time to reflect on what
they have done. Reflection and critical thinking help girls get
deeper meaning from their experiences. So, for every experience
girls have along the way, encourage time for talking, sharing,
reflecting, and applying their insights to new experiences in
their lives. By leading each other in activities, they will be
practicing this approach themselves. Articulating their thoughts
and feelings will consolidate what they are discovering about themselves
and leadership.
Cooperative Learning
When girls work together toward shared goals in an atmosphere
of respect and collaboration, they learn a lot from each other.
While building their relationship skills, the girls will especially
value having a team atmosphere that makes them feel safe and
supported.
To support their cooperative learning experience, partner with
girls on creating a team agreement. Encourage them to reflect
back and speak openly and often about how they are functioning as
a team. Also, whenever possible, encourage girls to do activities
in pairs or small groups. Plus, it is simply more fun to do things
with friends!
Next: Understanding Middle School Girls