Collaborative+Culture+2

How can we make our grade levels or teams into more productive and collaborative teams that function as a professional learning community? What types of goals should we be setting for these teams? Let everyone speak and have a part in discussions and decisions. Bind everyone to the decision so some are not allowed just to pull out and revert to their own way of doing things when they don't agree. The goal of the meeting should be stated so everyone knows the purpose of the discussion and decision. Is it to save money? Be better prepared? Meet the needs of low achievers or high? The goal is always to do what is best for the students that teachers can realistically accomplish. (E Lee) It is wonderful when teachers in a grade level are consulted when a new teacher is hired. Mrs. Hayes has even asked teachers to help with the interview process. It is important that all team members contribute to the group. We are all here to educate the children. Teachers need to put aside their differences and learn to work together as professionals. Goals should be set as necessary to share the responsibilities of each grade level. (I. Fisher) It is wonderful to be consulted and be part of a team. However, it is counterproductive to spend time meeting and discussing the issues, come up with a plan or decision and then have it changed by one member. If we are going to spend our time to work on these problems then each member needs to feel their input is important and matters in the end action. It is very frustrating to use your precious time to meet and discuss when you know in the end it is a waste of time and won't matter to the final decision. This is one thing that causes bad attitudes toward all these meetings. We all have areas of strength and would like to feel we have made a difference when we leave a meeting.(E Lee) I personally have never worked for a system or a principal that allowed other grade level teachers to be part of the interviewing process. However, I like the idea. After all, we are the ones who have to work so closely together. I do agree that if teachers take the time to come in on their own time to be part of the interviews I do feel that their decisions need to be agreed upon and made final. I can see how meeting, giving your time, and then have the final decision made being totally the opposite of what was decided upon can be frustrating. In Decatur we were never asked for this type of input. Decisions were made by the administration and thats that. So there were never any problems with having too many chiefs in the tee pee. It also means when that teacher hired does not work out, its nobody's fault but the one who made the decision. So I dont know what would be best.(K.Powell) I can speak as one who was interviewed by the grade- level team when I was hired by HCS. I think it may have been a one time thing. This was the summer of 1997. If I understand correctly, the teachers took notes and offered insight, but the final decision was made by the principal. The only drawback to this was that I felt like the entire grade-level had expectations of me instead of just administration. It could be very intimidating at times. The actual interview process was probably the most comfortable interview situation I ever had though. Every teacher got to ask a question of their choosing and they were very down-to-earth pratical questions related to everyday teaching situations.(R. Hames) The team's goals should be to analyze data in each particular subject area for the grade level, choose whether that data signifies a need for change in the curriculum (if possible), teaching strategies and activities used, and then choose for every member to act upon those team choices. It would be necessary for pride to go out the door, and a little self-constructive criticism to be embraced in order to improve by admitting that another teacher's strengths can be acknowledged and used to improve the entire grade level. (proy) In order for us to become a team, some barriers need to come down. For instance, it's okay to admit we have weaknesses. It's okay to learn from other collegues instead of keeping good ideas to yourself and not wanting to share. That is not being a team player. (H. Witt)

Finding time to meet, share ideas, and discuss together is a real challenge, just among teachers in each grade level.  When possible, I hope that “Other” staff (library, P.E., music, special ed., etc.) will be included to keep everyone in the loop and allow for full participation.  An August in-service day might be productively used for collaboration and goal setting for the year ahead.  (E. Land)

I think a HUGE part of this is attitude of the teacher. Some people naturally work well with groups and appreciate ideas and constructive criticism of others. However, there are also other people who do not like to be dependent on others to get anything done and would rather be strictly responsible for their own classes and not have to worry themselves with other people. I can see both sides of this argument. I am fortunate enough to work with a grade level that all of the teachers DO work well and collaborate together. We do try to lessen one another's work loads. I am afraid that to have a "professional learning community" in every single grade level would only happen if certain guidelines were laid out and we were told exactly what to collaborate on and what to do independently. This goes back to my original statement. I feel that the attitude of the teachers have to be one of really embracing working together as a grade level and a professional learning community. (J. Wimberley) I believe to more times change, the more we need to lean on one another to help become a team. Expecially with the new reading series, there are new things that teachers have not been asked to do. If we do not work together as a team, then someone will be left out in the open without someone to lean on. I love having a team to lean on when I feel like I have no idea what I am doing!!! (J.Haynes) Much of the success of a team depends on the attitude of the team members. There is no "I" in the word "team" and selfishness can destroy unity. We are fortunate to have a great team. As far as goals, we determine certain things we want to accomplish as a grade level and our administrator also sets goals for us to accomplish throughout the year. (K. Smith) I agree with K. Smith. Attitude is everything, and it was very beneficial to belong to a positive group with the new reading series this year. We would lean on each other when we felt we were drowning. It is much easier to achieve the goals that we set or have set for us when there is a support system in place. (A. Robinson)