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1000+ ideas about Teacher Team Building on Pinterest | Team Building Activities, Team Building and Fun Team Building Activities

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1000+ ideas about Teacher Team Building on Pinterest | Team Building Activities, Team Building and Fun Team Building Activities

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Find and save ideas about Teacher Team Building on Pinterest, the world's catalog of ideas.

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Relationship Building with Teacher Colleagues

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Relationship Building with Teacher Colleagues

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Your relationships with your fellow teachers are likely to last far longer than any of your relationships with students. Even though we spend the majority of our time, care, and attention on fostering positive relationships with the students we see every day, it's just as important that we spend time relationship building with our colleagues.

Our colleagues are our teammates, our partners, our collaborators, our biggest pains and our biggest allies, working hard each day in their classrooms just like us. Positive relationship building with these folks can make a world of difference when it comes to improving our own practice and making our school a better, more effective environment for our students.

But often we take these relationships for granted. We focus on our students, ignore others around us, and even allow negative perceptions to infiltrate our way of thinking about others. But teaching can feel isolated enough as it is - we don't need to ostracize ourselves from those who are most likely to be our biggest supporters and friends.

Consider some of these ideas for interacting with peers at your school building.

Relationship Building Ideas: Ditch the E-mail

The convenience of e-mail is a double-edged sword. While we can asynchronously communicate thoughts to colleagues and reap all the benefits of electronic communication, we sacrifice that face-to-face contact. Relationships are best built face-to-face and side-by-side, but e-mail waters down the relational impact of our message.

Try this: When you have the chance, instead of sending an e-mail, go and find the person you want to communicate to. It doesn't matter if your message is profound or simple - but go and communicate to that person face-to-face. Even if the person is on the other side of your building, track them down and talk. You don't have to completely abort sending e-mails, but consider email as Plan B.

Ask for Their Successes

They say that "Imitation is a form of flattery," and it's true that one of the highest compliments you can pay a fellow teacher is to ask what's working for them and then use it yourself. This doesn't mean that you undermine a teacher by stealing their idea; it means you say, "What did you do for _____________ that worked well for you? Can I do that too?"

When you ask for someone else's input and advice, you automatically show respect for their perspective. We all work hard and have our share of successes - isn't it nice to be recognized every once in a while for that? Step out and recognize someone else, and gain some valuable teacher knowledge in the process.

Connect on Social Media

Our face-to-face connections during the workday are priceless, but we can expand on those even further when we engage with colleagues through social media. This doesn't mean that we merely share pictures of our children and pets during off hours; it means that we utilize these social media tools to professionally engage with one another beyond the school walls.

Consider sharing thoughts and links with colleagues via Twitter. Or create a blog where you document your successes and failures with things you're working on in the classroom. Or pin useful tips and materials on one another's Pinterest boards. Take your relationship to the digital level where you can share more materials and more thoughts than you might during your normal school hours.

Work on Something Together

The advantage to doing something alone is that we get it done our way, on our schedule. As teachers we've learned to trust ourselves and develop strong opinions about our perspective. But let that go and invite others into your task. If you're developing a new project for your classroom, initiating a committee for your staff, reimagining how you support your weakest students, or considering presenting at a conference, invite others to work on these with you.

You feel good when you personally accomplish something. But you feel great when you're part of a team that accomplishes something. This involves a little bit of your letting go of the specific vision you have for the project; but the payoff results with a huge boost in your collaborative spirit and firmer relationship with those you've worked alongside.

Be Social

Get together with your colleagues outside of school, even if it's in a way that you wouldn't ordinarily want to do. Sharing time together - especially over some food - is a great way to reinforce the bonds you have. Talk about school, vent about problems, laugh about mistakes, talk about families, hobbies, and dreams. Be a part of the social conversation that is going on at your school. Even just by showing up, your presence communicates you care about the other people who are there.

Mind Your Manners And Then Some

It's easy to remember the basics: say please and thank you, hold open the door, and smile when you pass in the hallway. We do these even for people whom we don't especially appreciate. But go the extra mile with your kindness and manners towards everyone. Handwrite thank you notes, buy birthday gifts, bring treats, volunteer for that inconvenient task, deal with the situation that's "Not your problem," genuinely listen, buy teachers' kids' fundraising wreaths, let others have their way, and don't expect any of this in return.

Putting yourself out there in these ways lets others know that they can trust you, you can trust them, and lays a solid foundation for respect and collaboration down the road. If you want to build relationships with others, it starts with how you treat everyone else.

When teachers work well together, everyone in the school benefits. And since your relationships with your colleagues are long term, the benefits your school gains are long term as well. Imagine how much students stand to gain when their teachers share ideas, respect one another, work together, and contribute to a positive academic environment. It all begins with strong relationships laying the foundation for momentous achievements.
How do you build relationships with your colleagues? What are your favorite methods, activities, or traditions? Share with us in the comments below! Jordan Catapano is a high school English teacher in a Chicago suburb. In addition to being National Board Certificated and head of his school's Instructional Development Committee, he also has worked with the Illinois Association of Teachers of English and has experience as a school board member for a private school. You can follow him on Twitter at @BuffEnglish, or visit his website www.jordancatapano.us.

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Relationship Building with Teacher Colleagues

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Your relationships with your fellow teachers are likely to last far longer than any of your relationships with students. Even though we spend the majority of our time, care, and attention on fostering positive relationships with the students we see every day, it's just as important that we spend time relationship building with our colleagues .

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NEA - 5 Tips for Better Relationships With Your Students

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NEA - 5 Tips for Better Relationships With Your Students

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Become a Popular Teacher

When you were a student, did you put more effort into an assignment or not cause mischief because you liked a teacher? That teacher you liked was popular (at least with you). As teachers, our primary goals are for students to try hard and behave in our classes. If we can make that happen, then being popular is a good thing.

Teachers become popular by building good relationships with their students by treating them the way they would like to be treated. Simply stated, students want to be treated with respect. Talking down to students or lecturing them about their inadequacies will only irritate or frustrate them. Offering positive reinforcement, being consistent, smiling, and listening to their concerns all help to gain students' trust and friendship.

Get To Know Your Students

Work at getting to know your students as individuals. Find out their interests. Initiate conversations with them about sports, TV, or school activities, or compliment them on their clothing. As you talk to them and listen to what's on their minds, they will begin to see that you're not just another adult, but someone who is genuinely interested in them

What you are doing is building up goodwill. There may be some hard times ahead, where you will have to be tough on certain individuals. Having some previous interactions that were positive may help. Though having "favorites" is not a good idea, it doesn't hurt to make a special effort to build a friendship with those who may become your problem students. This can be accomplished as simply as looking for opportunities to give them compliments, not overheard by others, such as "You did a nice job in class today by raising your hand instead of blurting out when you had ideas to share. Your cooperation in class made it easier for me to teach today. Thanks."

Protect the Student's Self-Esteem

As teachers, we are dealing with fragile beings. Adolescence brings insecurities. Individuals at this age are pulling away from adults. Being accepted by their peers is the key to their self-esteem. Being criticized by a teacher in front of their peers humiliates them. To avoid "losing face," students may react by talking back, smirking, or walking out of class. They will do whatever it takes to preserve their dignity.

So, how do you manage a classroom without taking away students' dignity? Make discipline corrections quietly and quickly. When there is misbehavior, keep your voice even. No sarcastic or condescending comments. If you can deal with a problem in a joking or light manner, that's even better. Sometimes, a pause or look will settle the issue and nothing needs to be said.

Whenever possible, try to handle discipline issues without an audience. When leading a class activity, you may be able to talk privately about a discipline issue at the student's desk or catch him as he leaves class. This allows for better, more genuine exchanges, since the student responses will not be witnessed by classmates.

Occasionally a student will be reluctant to accept disciplinary actions, such as staying a few minutes after class, changing seats, or taking a detention slip. This is the time to invoke what I call the "fairness doctrine." I point out to the student that if I don't discipline him, it is not fair to others who have done similar activities and suffered a penalty. I end up by saying, "How would you feel if I disciplined you today and then you see me let a classmate get away with the same misbehavior tomorrow? It is only fair that I treat everyone the same. To give you special treatment would be showing favoritism." This helps them see that, not only is it a fair thing to do, but to let them off would garner disapproval of their peers who would see this as a teacher giving an individual special treatment.

Build Goodwill on Good Days

Too often teachers only interact with students when there is a disruption. When things are going well and students are quietly reading, doing their work, or listening attentively, we just silently accept this situation and enjoy the respite from having to correct misbehavior. Yet this is the time to build a little goodwill by commenting on how much you appreciate your students' good study habits. Here's a great opportunity to use statements like these:

"It's really great to see all of you start your homework without having to be told."

"I appreciate that you are all working so quietly."

"The bell just rang. I see that everyone is in the right seat. That's great."

"It sure is easy to carry on a discussion when people raise their hand and don't interrupt others. I appreciate that."

"You're a great class; I enjoy being your teacher."

Listen to Students

Students like to feel that they have some "say" or influence on what goes on in class. If a teacher is open to receiving feedback, this can bring about a better level of mutual respect. If a student raises a concern about a school policy, an assignment, or grading, we discuss it. I tell my students that they have provided me with some of my best ideas for improving my teaching. Some of the topics that I use for composition assignments came from students and it was their suggestion that resulted in checklists used for grading projects.

Since my priority is educating students, these discussions don't occur regularly, but they do need to happen. Taking time to listen to student concerns shows that I care enough about them to value their ideas.

When students feel their teacher is a caring person, then the classroom becomes a happier place for everyone. In a less stressful situation, creative ideas are more likely to emerge. Maintaining good relationships between teachers and students is an all around winning proposition as it fosters an environment where real learning can take place.

Related Links

About the Author

Dave Foley taught junior high in Cadillac, Michigan, for 29 years, where he also coached varsity cross country and junior high track. Now retired, he works part-time as a classroom management coach helping teachers who are having difficulties maintaining order in their classrooms. In the summer, he works part-time at Y camps teaching staff how to deal with camper behavior problems and teaching campers canoeing and wilderness skills. Foley holds a master's degree in counseling and is the author of the Ultimate Classroom Management Handbook

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5 Tips for Better Relationships With Your Students

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When you were a student, did you put more effort into an assignment or not cause mischief because you liked a teacher? That teacher you liked was popular (at least with you). As teachers, our primary goals are for students to try hard and behave in our classes.

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This Is the Future of Education - YouTube

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This Is the Future of Education - YouTube

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A Letter to the Future From Kid President - YouTube

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A Letter to the Future From Kid President - YouTube

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A Letter to the Future From Kid President

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What’s Stopping You From Achieving Your Goals? - YouTube

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What’s Stopping You From Achieving Your Goals? - YouTube

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What’s Stopping You From Achieving Your Goals?

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What is 21st century education? - YouTube

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What is 21st century education? - YouTube

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Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education

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Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education

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Prepare our children for this world. Educate the heart. It's already happening around the world with astonishing results. http://educatingtheheart.org Video Produced by Giant Ant Media http://giantant.ca Art by Sander Van Dijk http://sandervandijk.tv Voiced by Shane Koyczan http://shanekoyczan.com Produced for the Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education http://dalailamacenter.org

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An Introduction to Technology Integration - YouTube

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An Introduction to Technology Integration - YouTube

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An Introduction to Technology Integration

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What Teachers Make Final Moviebk2 0001 - YouTube

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What Teachers Make Final Moviebk2 0001 - YouTube

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5 Empowering and Inspiring Videos for Students, Teachers from Soul Pancake — Emerging Education Technologies

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5 Empowering and Inspiring Videos for Students, Teachers from Soul Pancake — Emerging Education Technologies

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Inspire, Amaze, Learn, Change, Grow, Laugh ...

Need a little lift to get you through the day, the week, and propel you through to the end of the school year?

I've so enjoyed the videos from Kid President, I wanted to check out some other content from Soul Pancake. I was not disappointed. These folks are putting out so many great, fun empowering clips! This is just a small collection of what they've produced.

You and your students are sure to find some inspiration (and humor) in these videos.

What's Stopping You From Achieving Your Goals?

What do you think stands between you and where you want to be?

A Letter to the Future from Kid President

How are you going to make the future awesome?

Never Would I Ever ...

Sometimes all it takes is an unexpected adventure to open your eyes to all that is possible.

Kid President's 20 Things We Should Say More Often

Kid President believes the things we say can help make the world more awesome.

The Science of Happiness - An Experiment in Gratitude

What makes you happy? Have you ever wondered why?

Kelly Walsh is Chief Information Officer at The College of Westchester, in White Plains, NY, where he also teaches. In 2009, Walsh founded EmergingEdTech.com. He frequently delivers presentations and training on a variety of education and technology topics at schools and conferences across the U.S. Walsh became the Community Administrator for the Flipped Learning Network in June of 2016. He also writes the "Technology Perspectives" Column for University Business magazine. In his "spare time" he writes, records, and performs original music ... stop by kwalshmusic.com and have a listen! [Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are my own, or those of other writers, and not those of my employer. - K. Walsh]

Andrew

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5 Empowering and Inspiring Videos for Students, Teachers from Soul Pancake

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Need a little lift to get you through the day, the week, and propel you through to the end of the school year? I've so enjoyed the videos from Kid President, I wanted to check out some other content from Soul Pancake. I was not disappointed.