https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool Read the article on our Google Site - 8 Ways to Build Collaborative Teams. Share your thoughts about the article and how this could apply to education. en-us 2016-09-21 14:41:36 UTC 2021-03-29 22:59:16 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Folder.png https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339511875 My biggest takeaway from the article was when the author mentioned, "Looking closely at our data, we discovered that when 20% to 40% of the team members were already well connected to one another, the team had strong collaboration right from the start." To me, this speaks volume. If a team is built with members who know each other, or have worked with together, it makes it easier to collaborate. Decisions being made is also easier. This is big when it comes to building a relationship specifically for members of a team. A good bond amongst a team is what will make the team successful.  ]]> 2021-03-22 18:14:55 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339511875 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339530203 I feel like everyone is hesitant to meet up and talk in-person even if it is with masks on. Using online video platforms such as Zoom, Google Meets, and Hangouts made it easier. However, it is still not the same as being in-person. You are not able to sit together and map what you and your team are striving for. Today, in the COVID-19 environment, it makes it difficult to come together and really have that face-to-face hands-on experience.]]> 2021-03-22 18:18:17 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339530203 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339540218 Personally, I like a small-team. I feel that the more members to a team, the more complications there will be amongst everyone. I prefer a team of 5 or 6. Keep the numbers down. The bigger the team, the more issues it may pose. In order for a team to be successful there needs to be that bond. I think forming a bond with a smaller group will make the group successful.]]> 2021-03-22 18:20:10 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339540218 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339551108 Having the students discover, rather than tell them. An admin last year pointed that advice to me. As much as I hated watching the student fail at first, I knew that I was going to reinforce the concept and that they would be fine. Let the student try something out before the teacher corrects them. I have been doing this ever since. I will also say, "try it out, discover it" then, when the student is done, with whatever it is, I will look at it. Another big thing I have learned from an admin is to "show" me not "tell" me. When the student "tells" you, it looks something like this, "The answer is 14, right?". Show me the work you did to get to 14. Be confident in your answer.]]> 2021-03-22 18:22:12 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339551108 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339554845 my biggest take away was that when collaboration increases over 20 people collaboration decreases. I feel that this is such a true statement. Even outside of education- you walk into a "mom and pop shop" and you get kindness and consideration- you can see that the workers feel respected and love what they do. the vibes are different. You walk into a khols or marshalls and there are people who dont care, customers yelling at workers, and even management that doesnt care about much. You lose the meanig of what you do when you have SO many people there, and so many different postions. it is almost like your voice and opinion get lost with so many people

]]> 2021-03-22 18:22:54 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339554845 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339567352 I feel like interactions with teams need to be more communication and less telling everyone what to do. I feel like the last year i was yelled at or told to do more than i was appreciated for all of the time and effort i put in trying to give my students what they needed. Also personally, i feel like communication needs to improve both ways- teachers should feel that they can tell certain admin that they really feel that they need to teach a certain way to reach students and admin should listen instead of trying to group a whole school into a "one size fits all" approach. so many times i did not feel i was avle to do what i needed to benefit my kids because we had to work the same as other classrooms when it was not appropriate for my kids.

]]> 2021-03-22 18:25:18 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339567352 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339569483 The willingness to take charge and be a leader. Someone needs to take the initiative to lead. If there is no leadership, the team will not get very far. For example, Derek Jeter, he led by example. Derek Jeter was an amazing and young kids, adults, and ball players always wanted to be like him. It is how he cared himself and the way he acted towards his team, media, and fans made him an effective leader. You need to have the desire to lead and take the heat if something goes wrong.]]> 2021-03-22 18:25:43 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339569483 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339579622 So many admin i respect simply LISTEN to what i have to say, and they do not always have something to say back but they help me solve my problem myself by giving me a safe space to letmy thoughts run out all over the place. They also are unerstanding. When a situation occurs, when i am unsure, when i need guidance they know when to step in and lend a hand. But i have also experienced admin who try and tell me what i need to do for my class when they do not know how my students function entirely. I think that helps me with my paras in the room because it makes me realize that they are the oens with my students all day and they have an opinion that can make all the difference in how i approach situations. ]]> 2021-03-22 18:27:39 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339579622 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339580856 Setting goals and working towards the goal. You can always get better. What makes humans so great is how we respond to failing and how we respond to things we do not know. My goal every year is to inspire my students to love learning. It is my presence in the classroom that will really reflect the students willingness and desire to learn.]]> 2021-03-22 18:27:53 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339580856 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339592679 I think effective leaders help those who work with them work to their full potential. As a leader i should never be doing everyones work but i should be helping them and guiding them to be the best they can be and also encouraging them in the process. Also you need good communication skills and be slow to get angry- mistakes happen and no one works the same way, but you still need to keep your cool and handle situations professionally. Lastly I think that leaders just show a mutual respect for everyone they work with and they always continue to grow regardless of their position- everyone should continue learning and changing in order to be the best for the team that they can be.]]> 2021-03-22 18:30:18 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339592679 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339623874 i think one strategy/topic id definitely take from this is to create a sense of community. Personally, i think people work best when they feel they belong and they are in a safe and loving environemtn. I know i want to find a place where i feel that the staff really appreciate each other and work together well. I also know so many people who have the "you didnt have my back I wont have yours" mentality and that is something that i want to avoid at all costs. To have an atmosphere of "home" while also being involved in the community outside of the school just makes it more personable or a place to be.]]> 2021-03-22 18:36:35 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339623874 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339993032 My biggest takeaway was when the article talked about size and how the more people to a team the less collaboration there is. I can relate to this statement with grade team levels. I am always working with my grade, but I rarely work with grades 3 and 4. There seems to be a big disconnect between grade level corporation even though we can learn a lot from each other. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:03:26 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339993032 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339998673 After this year, I can see the way interactions have changed. We need to be more open with each other and sharing ideas. For example, my team level has greatly improved communication with other grades. It seems as though we are working harder than ever to fill the gaps between students and grade levels. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:05:03 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1339998673 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340006165 I think personality really effects team success. We are all working together for a common goal: educate children. When a team member is not pulling their weight, it can really effect the teams success. It can cause members to feel like they are doing more work or it can cause animosity between me members. People have to learn how to work with different personalities for a common goal. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:07:14 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340006165 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340014489 A practice/advice that I greatly appreciate and have experienced from administration is support. My vice principal tells me all the time, “try it and see what happens”. She is very open to teachers trying things out on their own and she does a great job of checking on us to see how it went. I have taken that advice and place it on my students and when they come to me with and idea, I like to tell them “try it and see what happens”. We all learn from trying things whether they work out or not. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:09:38 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340014489 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340020019 I think an important characteristic of a leader is someone who listens. When you are a leader you are working with multiple individuals and you have to be able AND open to listening to many ideas. Once you listen, you also have to be open to trying it their ideas and putting it into practice. A team means trying new things with other people. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:11:10 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340020019 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340022760 A method I want to practice with my classroom is “modeling collaborative behavior”. Sometimes when I put my students into groups, I often find myself saying “we all need to participate.”  I want to better show my students examples of how to work together and be a team. When we were in school it was a lot easier to show that. Now that we are online, I need to show my students through other means how to work with one another.  It is also important to should them how to listen to one another on a team. Sometimes students struggle with listening to one another. If they can practice and see that skill now they will be better off in the future. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:12:00 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340022760 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340026272 My biggest takeaway from this article was that supporting a sense of community is so important in order for every employee to feel a sense of belongingness in their line of work. This year is especially hard on everyone and sometimes we are feeling down, but with the right group of people around you to keep you going, it encourages you to keep pushing harder. Group events/activities, staff meetings or get togethers are some ways to build a sense of community within 40+ people. This allows everyone to get to know each other a little bit and will allow for better communication and collaboration. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:12:59 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340026272 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340049866 My one big takeaway from the article is the fact that members of complex teams are less likely to collaborate. As stated in the article, they are "unable to share knowledge freely, to learn from one another, to shift workloads flexibly to break up unexpected bottlenecks, to help one another complete jobs and meet deadlines, and to share resources." When I think of the word team, I usually think large numbers of people working together. However, the article proved that teams of fewer people are more effective and are able to collaborate more than teams of many people.]]> 2021-03-22 20:20:01 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340049866 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340051849 This past year has been extremely hard on collaboration and communication. I feel that with COVID and social distancing, people are afraid to talk in person and want to use zoom, google meet, etc. to communicate something that might take a few minutes to explain. I personally think that talking face to face is an easier way to communicate than rather doing it virtually. With guidelines opening up, hopefully we are able to get back to communicating face to face and are able to collaborate with other team members about what is happening in the classroom. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:20:36 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340051849 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340060897 The biggest takeaway I got from the article is that sometimes we think about what factors will help creating a collaborative team the most (numbers, specialist from varying fields, in education- collaborating cross content, etc.) but we don't always ask ourselves how these benefits can also have a chain reaction of negative impacts. This is not to say we shouldn't bring more members to the team table, or that we shouldn't collaborate across contents, but we have to always be one step ahead. If we know that people in our collaborative team are more strangers than close acquaintances, we have to take steps in creating better bonds so that collaboration is successful- especially if our supervisor/bosses don't think about that (even though they should!) ]]> 2021-03-22 20:23:17 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340060897 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340069434 Personally, I think communication and size can impact team success. In order for everyone to succeed, there needs to be clear communication and everyone needs to work together for a common goal. With that being said, sometimes the common goal cannot be met because there are too many people working together where there are many personalties in play. With a smaller team, there can be an easier way for them to figure out the common goal rather than a larger number of people. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:25:41 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340069434 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340074975 My biggest takeaway was that diversity in teams is not always a positive factor. We always think that diverse representation in groups of people, such as different age groups, job positions, and tenure status, as described in the article, gives people the chance to learn from each other, but in actuality people are less likely to feel motivated to collaborate with those whom they don't have much in common with. In thinking about this, I can see that it definitely makes sense. I myself might feel less inclined to collaborate with a fellow teacher who has been there for 30 years, as opposed to one who has been there for less than 5 years, because that colleague who has so much more experience seems to be in such an unattainable position to me.]]> 2021-03-22 20:27:21 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340074975 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340075897 After our experiences of the past year, team interactions must change in the sense that everyone must work together and collaborate in a way that is universal. Last March, when our school shut down, everyone was constantly emailing each other online resources to help each other get through teaching online. As a school, we all worked together to be on the same page and deliver instruction in the same way. Now, being back in the building, we continue to collaborate with each other through professional development and faculty meetings, sharing ideas that have been useful and successful in the classroom. Being that so many students are at home and parents are seeing firsthand what is going on in the classroom, it is crucial that teams are working together to create a universal plan for delivering instruction to the students both in the classroom and at home. It's also crucial that teachers and administrators are interacting with each other in a positive, helpful way.]]> 2021-03-22 20:27:38 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340075897 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340079874 In a normal year, collaboration for me was simple. I would walk down the hall and talk to my co-workers about our plans, materials, etc. This year, the distance has really made this difficult because in my environment, we were so dependent on face-to-face conversations. This year has shown me that there are benefits to having ways to collaborate when not in-person. Sure, you can argue that once things return to "normal" this won't be an issue, but I think having an extra layer of communication, even in a regular year, will be helpful especially to accommodate teachers' busy schedules (ex: some teachers may do more planning after school, on weekends, etc). In this aspect, more teachers can be involved in the conversation and collaboration. Yes, you want to beware of numbers, but instead of talking to my main two other algebra teachers, a platform to chat virtually also allows me to bring in other people from the math department who perhaps will forsee issues in my current planning that can affect my students as they reach the higher grade levels. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:28:49 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340079874 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340085136 A piece of advice I have received from an Admin is that sometimes you might make a mistake or you know you can do better, you just move on and try again tomorrow. If a lesson didn't work out as I planned or a student was being difficult and I got frustrated, I know there is an opportunity to do better the next day. I can just throw my hands up in the air and say, "let's try tomorrow". We are always quick to be hard on ourselves but we need to remember that as humans we make mistakes and that we can always try to do better the next day. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:30:31 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340085136 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340092881 In my opinion, size and socialization are two factors that impact team success. At my school, every grade is a class of 1; we are our own team. With that, I rely on my colleagues who teach the grade below and above me for collaboration. In a way I like being my own team; I can do my own thing and not have to worry about t what another teacher in the same grade is doing. On the other hand, I'm a team of one, and that definitely has its own challenges. But being that my school is so small, we are like a family. Everyone works together, whether you are the Kindergarten teacher or an 8th grade English teacher. Everyone is constantly communicating with one another and sharing ideas. As a staff, we all socialize and get along, including administration. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:32:58 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340092881 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340093077 While the article discusses many things that can help & hurt successful team collaboration, my understanding is that personal connections/practices can be what makes or break a team. This is not to be confused with friendship, but rather levels of comfortability with speaking each's truths, the way we go about resolving conflict, etc. The article talks about how diversity can hinder teams because if people don't feel "connected" to one another, they are less likely to find success. But that feeling of being "connected" doesn't necessarily need to come from area of expertise, age, race, etc. We can focus the connection on the way we communicate and interact with one another. If there is a strong baseline understanding of how team members should carry themselves with one another, the differences in other areas may not be enough to destroy a strong foundation of mutual respect.  ]]> 2021-03-22 20:33:02 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340093077 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340094886 Team interactions now are so different than they were, because there is so much less face to face interaction. In prior years, there was so much more casual social interaction through time in the lunchroom, or just hallway greetings, and even events like holiday parties that have not happened this year. Now, we miss out on so much of this, and team interaction happens more over platforms such as group chats (we use WhatsApp at my school) where people are probably inclined to collaborate less because they don't want to "bother" every member of the group with their messages, rather than having a small target audience receiving it.]]> 2021-03-22 20:33:35 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340094886 cnicoletti5 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340100176 My biggest takeaway from this article is that collaboration is so important and effective; when groups are smaller in size, have knowledge about one an other, feel respected and all have and know their role in the group. This takeaway reminds me of my role in my school. My 3rd grade team is so close, we plan daily and talk about everything and help each other out but we never talk to special teachers or other grades. Also thinking of other jobs and in life! Normally large friend/ team groups do not work out... you end up finding your smaller niche and become more comfortable with them. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:35:08 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340100176 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340104734 Factors that most impact team success, besides the size of the team, might include things like administrative support, and diversity within teams. Administrative support will always be important because employees who feel supported feel less stressed and therefore find it easier to collaborate with each other. Diversity within teams can go both ways; either being a positive thing as diverse viewpoints allow team members to learn from each other, or being a negative thing as people feel less inclined to collaborate with others if they don't have much in common.]]> 2021-03-22 20:36:29 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340104734 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340105158 My biggest takeaway from this article is that when you add more people to a team that exceeds over 20, you might not always see positive results. It was stated that cooperation decreased in this case. I find this interesting because you would think having a larger team would decrease your workload and stress level. But I can see how cooperation may decrease. People might put the blame on others, people might not want to have to deal with others that they are unfamiliar with, and people might just push their work load onto others. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:36:37 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340105158 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340107811 When I took a maternity leave at West Caldwell, I remember being excited to participate in a PD day where a fellow co-worker taught us how to make "no-sew blankets." I thought this was great because the focus was on building interpersonal relationships without the necessary focus of teaching strategies. I found this to be important because as I sat there making my blanket, I heard how the teacher across the hall loved to ski and how my co-teacher just became a grandmother. These facts created a bond that further allowed us to work better together on actual school related tasks. Unfortunately, in my school now, while there are opportunities to do these types of PD activities, my supervisor has always funneled the math teachers into math-specific experiences. I am now about to complete my fourth year, and have built strong relationships with people in my building, but there are certainly a few I do not know from a hole in the wall. BUT, my supervisor just retired so maybe there will be a change in our PD options! It would be nice to know my coworkers more, and it would probably help me in creating lessons that go across various contents.]]> 2021-03-22 20:37:28 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340107811 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340110096 As I discussed in my previous post, my school is extremely small. As a staff of teachers, we communicate and collaborate with administration on a daily basis. Our Principal is also our Superintendent. All administrators that would typically have an office at a different location from the school (Superintendent, BA, etc.), all have offices right in our school building. Luckily, our administrators work very hard on collaborating with the teachers in my school.]]> 2021-03-22 20:38:13 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340110096 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340112780 Admins in my district have typically been very supportive of teachers and staff, which encourages people to collaborate because having supportive admin leaves employees much less stressed, and therefore more willing and able to work together. I've seen administrative personnel, like my principal, consistently walk through classrooms just to say hello to teachers and students, something that really boosts morale. Practices like this seem to be effective in creating the sense of the staff being one big team.]]> 2021-03-22 20:39:05 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340112780 cnicoletti5 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340114890 After our experiences this year, one way teams interactions must change is by sharing ideas with larger parties. We tend to only help ourselves and our people but by helping others we can all learn from each other. I was a first year teacher last year and one of the requirements was all teachers in the school must observe a co-worker in the school, I learned so much from this experience and hope I can continue to do it multiple times a year, we learn so much!]]> 2021-03-22 20:39:48 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340114890 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340115336 Due to the pandemic and lack of contact with one another, our communications skills of face-to-face contact has decreased. People would be able to easily walk over to someone they need and ask a question. But now we have to stay 6 feet apart, wear a mask, and typically meetings are virtual. It's hard to collaborate and plan when it is so hard to do so. Hopefully next year meetings, planning, and collaboration will be made much easier with less restrictions. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:39:57 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340115336 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340117568 I thought it was interesting that they mentioned larger teams don't have great collaboration between teammates. I've found this to be true in my experience as well because I get to know my teammates when it's easier to get to know them. It's always easier to assert yourself and speak out in smaller groups because you are typically more familiar with them. With larger groups, this is not always the case. It can be hard to feel like a member of a team when it is so large and you don't know anyone well enough to feel comfortable asking questions. Additionally, larger groups tend to rely on leaders rather than collaboration because organizing larger groups of people seems a more daunting task.]]> 2021-03-22 20:40:42 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340117568 cnicoletti5 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340122545 The article touched upon this idea a lot. Size of teams, personalities of people, opinions, connectivity, interests, goals, values and attitudes all play a role in impacting team successes. I also think bosses play a major role in changing the dynamic of a work setting, employees have to feel heard, connected and respected to achieve. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:42:19 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340122545 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340123046 I think the absolute most important characteristic of an effective leader is to LEAD BY EXAMPLE and to MODEL. We've said it so many times as teachers, "The expectations of our supervisor show how detached from the classroom they are, how long its been since they've been an ACTUAL teacher." I think leaders have to stop requesting things from employees that they aren't willing to do themselves (model) or don't know enough about because they haven't taken a moment to explore those things first (i.e.- providing an online tool but not being able to answer questions about how it really works.) I also think that the leader's "work values" should consider the values of the employees. Some teachers or workers are more comfortable, willing, or in some cases capable of trying certain strategies or techniques. If the leader just forces their own ideals on what the teachers should do in their classrooms, a divide can occur between leadership and employees on both an individual level and team level. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:42:29 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340123046 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340123688 In my opinion, the most important characteristics of an effective leader are being relationship-oriented and task-oriented. It's important to have a leader that forms a relationship with you. That's the number 1 thing teachers are told to do at the beginning of every new school year: form relationships with the students! The same goes for administrators and their teachers. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:42:41 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340123688 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340124210 Once factor that impact team size is technology. Years ago when technology wasn't really around, there wasn't a need for so many people. But now since technology is in every aspect of the majority of jobs, there needs to be more people to help keep these technologies fluid and running smoothly. It's stated that the more people you have on a team, the less collaboration you will have. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:42:52 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340124210 cnicoletti5 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340129785 I have been in 3 different schools since my teaching career has started. Every school had a different feel, different practices and a different feel/experience from admins. My first school was a very small school and the teachers were very cliquey and friendly with their teams but did not get along or appreciate the administration, they felt disconnected. My second school, the administration was very young, giving and positive, the dynamic was much more positive and comforting for staff. For my current school, the district is very large and administration seems to have a lot more obligations, the teachers feel content but administration is not as involved. 

One day I would love to do either admin, school psych or LDTC... I think if I do go admin then I would love to include those teaching practices that make staff feel comfortable, respected, appreciated and heard while being involved but in more friendly and cooperative ways. Balance is important in everything!]]> 2021-03-22 20:44:39 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340129785 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340129825 An effective leader can communicate efficiently, and is encouraging of team members to work together. Consistently having open lines of communication allows for all to be informed when there is a concern or problem. This in turn allows all involved to work together effectively.]]> 2021-03-22 20:44:40 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340129825 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340130791 I think team interactions need to have a very well-defined, accessible agenda with clear goals to meet. Often times, groups are made and are told to discuss "some of the topics that were discusses", or to, "dive deeper into some of these topics". No one actually wants to do that, even most professionals would rather go make some food in the kitchen or watch TV. When you have a clear agenda and set goals, it give people purpose, objective, and direction--something to complete. Without that, people feel lost and lose motivation quickly. Also, ensuring that groups will be checked in on later helps groups to work more diligently because there is more accountability. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:44:59 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340130791 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340131757 One strategy from the article that I would like to apply to my workplace is investing in signature relationship practices. In terms of teachers, I have a core group of friends that I have made since I started working at the school. However, I would like to build more relationships with other staff members. I also spent time at the beginning of the school year fostering relationships with my students, but I feel like there isn't enough time in the day, and I always feel so rushed to get through curriculum. With warmer weather approaching, my goal is to spend more time talking to my students when we go outside for snack/recess, and learning even more about each and every one of them.]]> 2021-03-22 20:45:18 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340131757 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340133463 One piece of advice that I was told was that you aren't always going to succeed at first. You are eventually going to "fail" at some point but you just have to keep going. It was mentioned to me that as long as you are teaching, the students are learning something! No matter if you feel like you are completely failing at a lesson, you can always try again and grow from it. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:45:51 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340133463 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340137849 There are many characteristics of an effective leader. One strong characteristic is not straying away from your beliefs. If a parent comes in upset and wants change, but that change isn't appropriate, it is easier to just cave to make the problem go away when the real situation should be addressed properly. I also think strong communication is a must. Do not keep your employees in the dark wondering what is going to happen. Lastly, have a strong sense of discipline. Many students and/or staff may get away with things that shouldn't have happened. Sticking to your guns and being strong to set a good example is key! ]]> 2021-03-22 20:47:18 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340137849 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340138733 As mentioned, my supervisor just retired and this led to the science and math departments merging under one supervisor. We did breakout rooms last department meeting and I was stuck with all science people and no math people. I knew these science people, but not in a work-collaboration type of way. So it was a little uncomfortable here and there to share my ideas just because it was new and I'd never done so with these teachers before. With that being said, Building on Heritage Relationships is definitely something I would like to be implemented throughout the next few meetings just until everybody is really comfortable with each other. I'm one of the more outspoken people in my department, so if I was having some anxieties in this regard, I'm sure a few others too- especially the teachers who are even newer than me!]]> 2021-03-22 20:47:35 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340138733 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340140571 Building a strong sense of community is an important strategy for any workplace. If people feel like they are truly a part of a community where they are not just people who work in the same place, but rather actually feel inclined to interact socially, it makes everything flow more smoothly. Even just coming to work feels more appealing to people if they feel like they are a part of a community and look forward to seeing the people they work with. This is a morale booster overall.]]> 2021-03-22 20:48:07 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340140571 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340140775 Socialization and strong leadership promote team success because the former creates a sense of comfort and joy while the latter should create direction and objectives. If people feel comfortable, they will be more willing to assist in team efforts. If groups have a strong leader, their goals will be more clearly defined and the urge to complete goals to satisfy requirements will be stronger. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:48:12 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340140775 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340147976 I have to say I've disliked most administrators I've come in contact with because they fall into one of two extremes. Group A: too strict and imposing, so people don't want to engage with them out of fear of failure or judgement. Group B: too laidback/ignorant, so that they don't always know everything they should/have the answers to obvious questions, or they do not give clear directions and instead leave you to "figure it out".]]> 2021-03-22 20:50:26 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340147976 cnicoletti5 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340148759 I briefly mentioned this in my previous post but to me it is someone who is positive, dedicated, passionate, constantly learning and listening, open-minded but direct when it comes to goals and tasks and plans. Someone who can communicate effectively and cares about their relationships! Also someone who is knowledgeable and wants to grow!]]> 2021-03-22 20:50:40 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340148759 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340152616 I would like to try assigning team leaders. I know certain students would make good leaders from what I've seen in small groups. I think that giving students a turn to lead in something can be very effective. It doesn't always have to be during instructional time. But I feel that giving the students their time to shine and be a leader can be a great thing. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:51:55 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340152616 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340155390 What I got from the article is that a lot of modern tasks require a lot of people to work together to accomplish something. If certain factors are in place and a certain culture is formed the group will have a high chance of success. However, there are also factors that can contribute to the group failing. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:52:48 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340155390 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340160719 Over the past, I have seen a lot of groups needing to work virtually. Fortunately the schools I have worked at have in person instruction allowing for impromptu conversations, but formal meetings are no longer held in person. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:54:26 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340160719 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340162467 My one big takeaway from the article is that collaboration improves when the role of individual team members are clearly defined and well understood. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:55:01 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340162467 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340163422 One big take away I got from this article is that the bigger the group, does not mean the more success you have. Sometimes having a larger group of people can cause chaos and become unorganized. For me, I always thought, the bigger the team/ group, the better. The involvement of everyones opinions and experiences would seem to work, but that's not always the case. 

]]> 2021-03-22 20:55:21 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340163422 cnicoletti5 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340165323 I would love to use the idea of team roles and team positions! I think when people have roles teams work more smoothly with more people!]]> 2021-03-22 20:55:56 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340165323 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340165896 2021-03-22 20:56:07 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340165896 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340167571 I generally find the larger the team the harder it is to communicate. This has both been helped and hindered by virtual meetings. Becasue there is less travel more people are allowed to attend the meeting. On the other side there is a high probability at any time that someone will be distracted by what is going on in their environment or what they see in someone else's and they will miss a critical point. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:56:44 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340167571 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340169217 I feel that my co-teachers and I were able to collaborate on lessons. It was clear who was going to record a particular lesson and share with our level. We had a consistent time to meet and talk. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:57:19 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340169217 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340170502 I wish my work place would have more of a "Gift Culture" because I joined my district almost 2 months ago now and I really only know about 3 people that I feel comfortable working with. If more people had been formally introduced to me or I had been introduced to me certain individuals, then I likely would have a longer contact list. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:57:48 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340170502 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340172025 In order to have meaningful experiences with collaboration, I feel that there must be specific roles or an agenda to follow. At times I see groups getting together and getting off task or one member is doing more than another. As a new teacher this year, it has been very challenging to collaborate and work with my colleagues. I am hoping as life starts to pick back up, collaboration amongst colleagues will improve. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:58:11 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340172025 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340173950 The larger the team, collaboration becomes more difficult. It is important to build a sense of community so everyone feels they have a voice and feels included. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:58:48 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340173950 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340174190 I admired greatly the principal at the school I began the year at. She made an effort to ensure that all the teachers in the grades had a unified planning period and would even give them an afternoon a month to sit down and plan with one another. ]]> 2021-03-22 20:58:52 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340174190 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340177938 As the article says, I believe the best leaders lead by example and set the stage for success. If they expect collaboration they need to make themselves available to talk. They need to listen to others and, while not always being able to grant the request, make an effort to accommodate and make sure people are heard at the very least. ]]> 2021-03-22 21:00:12 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340177938 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340180857 The size of the group is very important as stated in the article. What was mentioned in the article was the idea of having each member play a specific role and also having the support for other colleagues. ]]> 2021-03-22 21:01:16 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340180857 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340441989 Administrators who are both task and relationship oriented are effective. I have a director of education at my school who meets with new staff once a week to talk about the students or other difficulties in the classroom. She is great at offering solutions and receptive to suggestions. She is somebody you can rely on and backs you up. She sent a card to let me know how much she appreciates my contributions to the school. ]]> 2021-03-22 23:00:18 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340441989 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340902320 My one big takeaway from the article is that all teams, even ones that have been already established, have room for improvement. I enjoyed reading through the different ways to build collaborative teams. One suggestion that resonated with me was "supporting a strong sense of community." My school heavily relies on teamwork as our students have significant special needs. I believe that one of our greatest strengths is the way that we work as a team for the students. The therapists are very welcoming and are always willing to collaborate on ways to better help our students. ]]> 2021-03-23 02:15:36 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340902320 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340916267 Although it is necessary for the platform of the meeting to change, the content should remain the same. For example, IEP meetings were previously held in person but are now held virtually. Despite this change, the agenda is the same as it would have been if the meeting were held in person. ]]> 2021-03-23 02:21:47 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340916267 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340924359 The article touched upon the the idea of the size of the team impacting its success. It insinuated that the larger the team, the less effective it would be. This is due to the fact that it is easy to work with 20 people than to work with 100. With that said, I think there are other factors that influence the success of a team as well. These include, but are not limited to, the example set forth by administration, the team's individual skill set and personalities, their willingness to work together, and the time the team is given to collaborate. ]]> 2021-03-23 02:25:26 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340924359 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340936437 Our current superintendent set up meetings with each individual staff member. This allowed us to get the chance to talk with him one-on-one and share thoughts and ideas pertaining to the improvement of our school and well as ourselves. It was nice that he took an interest in helping us advance professionally as well as taking our input to improve our programs. ]]> 2021-03-23 02:30:42 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340936437 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340949010 Effective leaders embody many positive qualities, not just one. A leader needs to be clear in their direction, and not hesitate when making decisions. The also need to be able to weigh all outcomes before making their choice. Leaders also need to be courageous, but simultaneously humble. These qualities together make a person well rounded and would mold a great leader. ]]> 2021-03-23 02:36:00 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340949010 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340969049 In my workplace, I would like to apply the strategy of creating a "gift culture." During my first year of teaching, I had a mentor but now that I am in my second year, this practice has dissipated. I think having a mentor was very helpful and should be a practice that is continued for a number of years. ]]> 2021-03-23 02:44:22 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1340969049 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1365985188 One big takeaway from this article is that there are many different people who make up a team and everyone's job is important. Each person contributes something different and essential. ]]> 2021-03-29 22:39:02 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1365985188 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1365996450 Many teams have gone from working side by side, to over the computer. For example, IEP meeting and I&RS meetings used to be planned and implemented in person. Now, mostly all of these meetings must be held over zoom due to the circumstances of COVID. ]]> 2021-03-29 22:46:13 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1365996450 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1365999950 The article discussed that the size of a team can impact the success. The author explained that the larger the team, the more difficult it is to run. Although, others may see having a large team as a good thing, because there is more people working, it is still more difficult to manage a large group of people. ]]> 2021-03-29 22:48:37 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1365999950 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1366003497 My administrative team is very involved and helpful. My supervisor reaches out often to offer help in different subjects as a grade level or even one-on-one. My principal does frequent check-ins to make sure everything is going well. ]]> 2021-03-29 22:51:13 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1366003497 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1366009383 I think the most important characteristics of a leader are understanding, caring, supportive, and approachable. ]]> 2021-03-29 22:55:22 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1366009383 https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1366012151 I like the idea of establishing a team leader. Even though we are successful when we work in teams, it would be nice to have someone who is fully in charge. ]]> 2021-03-29 22:57:30 UTC https://padlet.com/mmatp/teamsinschool/wish/1366012151