As millions of teachers are saying good bye to their summer and gearing up for the new school year, principals, staff developers, and leaders are planning their "welcome back" conversation for the oh-so-anticipated first day staff meeting. You know the one where everyone in the room really wants to be working in their classroom, but are gathered in the school cafeteria for the mandatory "let's go get 'em" rally.
As exciting as it is to be apart of such gatherings, it is often a challenge to find the perfect way to engage, excite, and encourage. The key to success- a GREAT video! A great video has the power to challenge, remind, provide perspective, and inspire; often in under 10 minutes!
But with so many choices, which one is best for your staff? your message? your students?
I posed the following question to my on and offline friends and colleagues to help you answer those questions.
If there was ONLY one video that I could introduce to my colleagues and my students, from all of the wonderful videos that I have come to learn about, it would be________________ because_________.
The response was amazing, and the following three received "top billing":
1, Starkville, MS Schoold District "Believe"
2,No Future Left Behind
3, To Meet the Demands of a New Age
To Meet the Demands of a New Age from Steven H on Vimeo.
I have and included the links to other popular suggestions. Feel free to add your favorite, and we will keep the list growing. Here's to the conversations that come! Happy viewing!
A Brave New, World-Wide Web
212 Degrees
Mr. Winkles Wakes
A Vision of K-12 Students Today
Myths and Opportunities: Technology in the Classroom
Where Conversations are Hushed, Creativity is Stunted
Sir Ken Robinson - The Element
21st Century Schools
What Teachers Make
Music and Life
The Kid No ONe Wanted
I Had a Dream...
25 Incredible TED Talks for Educators
This is just what I was looking for to start the school year with my staff. Thanks!
Aside from the videos, does anyone have a fun activity to start the welcome back staff meeting? I am looking for something that will engage teachers with each other, make people smile, and get the year started with a positive feeling.
Here is the correct link for the video...
The Kid That No One Wanted...based on the book of the same name...
Very inspirational...
http://edublogs.tv/play.php?vid=271
Brad-
Thanks so much for the link! It is such an inspirational video.
Dave-
I am so glad to hear that! There have been so many amazing conversations that have followed from each one of these videos. It is still so hard to pick a favorite.
The community really came through with the videos. I will send out a tweet for the MUST do beginning of the year engagement activity. I look forward to seeing the results. I will tweet and post it!
Hi Angela, Thanks for compiling all of these links. These are all excellent resources and they certainly send the right messages. While I shared many of these in faculty meetings, I was always striving to create a culture where faculty members share these types of videos throughout the year. It never seemed necessary to wait until everyone met in person to share and discuss. Sometimes you show something in a meeting and many people are tuning out because they've already seen it. I'll keep on working to get faculty members to view and discuss these online because we all understand the value and the need. Thanks again.