CONNECTIONS—Nothing joins people together like talk of sports or Survivor, neither of which I like, but these interactions create continued connections that, in turn, create a sense of comfort. No need for a rope course to create a team. Go to the Faculty Room.
COMFORT—Once the connections are made, comfort will set in. Some call this “team mentality” but I see it more as a comfort mentality since teachers are already in the profession for the same reason. It is just a matter of a marriage of teaching styles. And that new teacher…once he/she feels comfortable, he/she will ask questions, seek support, further his/her teaching craft.
COLLEGIALITY—the third, and ultimate, step. This step involves teachers working together on a common goal, sharing ideas. Before you can be a team, you have to feel connected. And when teachers have the comfort of a team, it allows for collegial work. Through collegial work, research, integration, weaving, and otherwise brilliant teacher magicary, teachers will create a school that can impact student learning.
A version of this news article first appeared in the Blogboard blog.
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