Good morning, #sunchat ters! Looking forward to a great get-together as we discuss collaboration this morning! I'm Susan from the Jersey Shore, 6th grade ELA.
It looks like the ODU is repping today, and lots of new friends! Please just remember to add the #sunchat to all of your contributions! Excited to have you!
Yep that’s me this morning after my 5 year old starts singing in his bed, but is not really awake, but now dad is, and decides to get up and grade papers...😴 #sunchat
So, as we get started, I don’t think anyone in here would argue against the importance of a collaborative effort in our schools. But what does that look like, what does it mean? What’s required for it? #sunchat
I'm going to start! To collaborate, relationships should be respectful, but don't have to be socially personal. I collaborate quite well with teachers I rarely know, but we share a common goal: To pull together the best experience for students. #sunchat
Morning, #sunchat. I'm Brian. I teach middle-school students in Colorado where the sun's just up, revealing many inches of snow. School where I teach has new schedule this year w/more collaboration time. Much to figure out.
A1 True collaboration starts with strong and trusting relationships. Collaboration doesn't mean we all agree in my mind, It means we listen to each other and work together to choose the best possible plan. #sunchat
For collaboration to happen, Ts need built in time - long chunks of time for deep brainstorming and thinking. Sharing ideas as we pass each other in the hallways is not enough! #sunchat
A1 I believe that collaboration is where all staff respect each other for what they do and work together cohesively for the good of all students #sunchat
My current school collaborates a lot! We have teams with teachers from all subjects that have common students and then we have PLC for our science department! We can make sure we are on the same page with everyone! #SunChat
As often happens, chats cross-pollinate. Here's a comment in #sunchat pinpointing one more notable contributor to teacher burnout as discussed moments ago at #hacklearning.
Ingredients for successful collaboration: an open mind, open ears, everyone shares ideas, respectful dialogue even if there are different points of view, clearly defined objectives (what are you expecting to have after the collaboration ends?) and TIME #sunchat
Toss this one around in your mind.
First, work on developing a sense of team and trust within members who are going to collaborate. If you skip over this important step, you're likely to spend the year whistling in the wind. #SunChat
We are a PLC school so we are lucky to have collaboration built into our school day. Ts need time during the workday to effectively plan and build relationships with each other. #sunchat
Yes, I think at least a minimal amount of respect is required. Different kinds of respect - personal, professional, etc. But if I don't respect you, I don't really care what you say, and that's not a conducive environment for collaboration. #sunchat
Collaboration would seem to start with a constant focus on what I would hope is the shared mission of everyone in the building- educating the kids. #sunchat
Great question. I feel the best collaboration occurs when everyone respects each other, but truly no I guess everyone doesn't have to respect each other as long as the main goal gets accomplished. #sunchat
I think a level of respect has to be there so we are able to listen and consider the ideas of others. People need the trust that comes with respect to feel comfortable sharing. #sunchat
Our ELA PLC team meets monthly, but we collaborate through GoogleClassroom routinely since our teams do not have common prep time during the school day. One of the best practices executed by @susankotch#sunchat
Effective collaboration relies on rock-solid communication, which helps achieve mix of accountable execution & helpful delegation without needless repetition of efforts. When communication falters, different kind of shunning often follows ;) #sunchat
This is where I get tripped up sometimes...a lot of times. For me, respect is such an earned thing. I can think you’re nice, but not necessarily respect you. Maybe I’m an ass 😂 #sunchat
Agreed! This needs to be modeled by admin but I am sad to share how few administrators strongly believe in collaborating with each other as a solid team. One or two may share w/ each other but all across a District ... rarely happens. #sunchat
I find the ❤️ of collaboration is mindset. It’s about lifting your tribe. Stars make others shine brighter. A candle doesn’t lose its flame by lighting others. It’s a team approach, not competitive #sunchat
Maybe there's a difference between truly respecting someone and behaving respectfully to someone? The latter is the bare minimum for working collaboratively I think. #sunchat
Our ELA PLC team meets monthly, but we collaborate through GoogleClassroom routinely since our teams do not have common prep time during the school day. One of the best practices executed by @susankotch#sunchat
Respect is so important but so is commitment. Ts must be on the same page and believe that the students are “our kids” and all students can learn. #Sunchat
@MsAnzaloneMPS Lori Anzalone! Are you sun chatting with us? WELCOME, Girlfriend! Everyone, Everyone! *waves hands in the air frantically* Follow Lori Anzalone!!!! #sunchat
Our ELA PLC team meets monthly, but we collaborate through GoogleClassroom routinely since our teams do not have common prep time during the school day. One of the best practices executed by @susankotch#sunchat
Yes - secondary Ss reading to pre-school Ss. Biology Ss teaching basics of the cell to 5th graders - I love that sort of collaboration for community building. #sunchat
Collaboration also requires generosity with time. If time = $ is your mindset, it won’t work. Your generosity is essential in order to effectively collaborate #sunchat
Yes - our Google Classroom setup helps us to collaborate virtually (as we are doing in a different form this morning!) - and I recommend everyone do it in their buildings! It's a great way to connect! #sunchat
Our ELA PLC team meets monthly, but we collaborate through GoogleClassroom routinely since our teams do not have common prep time during the school day. One of the best practices executed by @susankotch#sunchat
I have worked with teams of educators who had a rotating schedule that allowed EVERYONE to sit down and share - librarian, sped, ELL, counselor, admin. If everyone's voice is valued, then there are ways to accomplish this. #SunChat
I agree. But I also find clear communication to be soooo difficult. When a group of people filter words through their own experience, each of them may come away with a different understanding. #sunchat
And when you collaborate, listen to understand first and avoid listening to respond. It’s the difference of truly hearing vs playing tennis 🎾 with disjointed ideas/thoughts. #SunChat
No you aren't - I hear what you are saying. I get it. I think we all know folks we might have to work closely with that we may not choose to be hanging with otherwise. It happens! #sunchat
This is such an important point. I am constantly trying to get better at this. Listen first, then consider and respond. Sometimes I need to just take the information and walk away to respond later. #sunchat
Or, I can collaborate with people who are also respectful towards me (2 way street). And we have to be careful of attitude. Careful to be open to other's ideas and not come across as a know-it-all (which can happen without our realizing it) #sunchat
GClassroom idea I heard... For Ts sharing a common course, create master class in GClassroom (separate from student classes) for collaborating & templating. Materials from there can be shared, duplicated across all sections when useful, or can serve as sandbox #sunchat
In my mind, I don't believe we all have to be friends. We can be respectful colleagues working toward a common goal without being friends I think. #sunchat
I don’t know that friendship is a requirement but it definitely makes it easier! It allows for freedom in the collaboration and not worrying about stepping on toes #SunChat
GClassroom idea I heard... For Ts sharing a common course, create master class in GClassroom (separate from student classes) for collaborating & templating. Materials from there can be shared, duplicated across all sections when useful, or can serve as sandbox #sunchat
I would LOVE it if we could collaborate with "specials" teachers as well (tech, library, music, art) but our common planning time is when they have our students! Difficult to manage scheduling in schools. #sunchat
I have worked with teams of educators who had a rotating schedule that allowed EVERYONE to sit down and share - librarian, sped, ELL, counselor, admin. If everyone's voice is valued, then there are ways to accomplish this. #SunChat
And sometimes this pause can be awkward. I’ve gotten into the practice of verbalizing my discipline... “I’m listening to you. I hear you.” I bet taking a break will be even better for my response to be even more thoughtful. #SunChat
For sure, Carla. Telephone game between colleagues & even in our own heads! Best solution I've seen is foundation of active listening: telling (or sometimes emailing) back to check understanding, refine as needed. #sunchat
And, speaking as a specials teacher, this can make us feel isolated. I don't have a solution to planning time, but even a quick check-in before/after school or during lunch means a lot! #sunchat
I would LOVE it if we could collaborate with "specials" teachers as well (tech, library, music, art) but our common planning time is when they have our students! Difficult to manage scheduling in schools. #sunchat
I have worked with teams of educators who had a rotating schedule that allowed EVERYONE to sit down and share - librarian, sped, ELL, counselor, admin. If everyone's voice is valued, then there are ways to accomplish this. #SunChat
No doubt, and I think about that a lot. I know that I have to work to earn respect as well. My focus is on growth to benefit Ss, designing ops to benefit Ss, advancing the field if I can, chasing growth with passion. It’s just hard for me if I don’t see that in another #sunchat
Hard work Easy work
————— ————–
inspire complain
educate imitate
empower control
develop blame
finish give up
collaborate ignore
trust exaggerate
explore stand still #sunchat
I like that. I find with some responses I might react with my emotions up front, but if I take my time, then I can see the benefits of what is being proposed. #sunchat
There are days when everyone has professional learning experiences? IF a school truly values the PLC process, building a strong sense of team and collaboration, then they automatically build these sessions into that day. #SunChat I bet you can come up with creative ideas?
I would LOVE it if we could collaborate with "specials" teachers as well (tech, library, music, art) but our common planning time is when they have our students! Difficult to manage scheduling in schools. #sunchat
I have worked with teams of educators who had a rotating schedule that allowed EVERYONE to sit down and share - librarian, sped, ELL, counselor, admin. If everyone's voice is valued, then there are ways to accomplish this. #SunChat
Hard work Easy work
————— ————–
inspire complain
educate imitate
empower control
develop blame
finish give up
collaborate ignore
trust exaggerate
explore stand still #sunchat
Hard work Easy work
————— ————–
inspire complain
educate imitate
empower control
develop blame
finish give up
collaborate ignore
trust exaggerate
explore stand still #sunchat
yes Arbrey I agree speaking as a SLP. I don't have planning time like other teachers. I get 10 min here and 10 minutes there as that is just how it works out with my caseload so a quick checkin is so nice. #sunchat
And, speaking as a specials teacher, this can make us feel isolated. I don't have a solution to planning time, but even a quick check-in before/after school or during lunch means a lot! #sunchat
I would LOVE it if we could collaborate with "specials" teachers as well (tech, library, music, art) but our common planning time is when they have our students! Difficult to manage scheduling in schools. #sunchat
I have worked with teams of educators who had a rotating schedule that allowed EVERYONE to sit down and share - librarian, sped, ELL, counselor, admin. If everyone's voice is valued, then there are ways to accomplish this. #SunChat
That's exactly what we do - we share lessons, resources, PD, all kinds of stuff. Since we can't meet face to face (even though we are in the same bldg.), we can post and read each other's thoughts and ideas. #sunchat@brianrozinsky@MsAnzaloneMPS
GClassroom idea I heard... For Ts sharing a common course, create master class in GClassroom (separate from student classes) for collaborating & templating. Materials from there can be shared, duplicated across all sections when useful, or can serve as sandbox #sunchat
Hard work Easy work
————— ————–
inspire complain
educate imitate
empower control
develop blame
finish give up
collaborate ignore
trust exaggerate
explore stand still
#sunchat
Anyone else feel that the reality of being a passionate educator is one of the biggest obstacles to collab? When you’re planning, grading, growing professionally, and for many of us our Job1- parenting, collab time can be hard to find! #sunchat
"Specials" teachers also can feel their input is not valued if this is the model. Can we shift from this model to one that shows we want to listen to the input of all educators in our schools? #SunChat
I would LOVE it if we could collaborate with "specials" teachers as well (tech, library, music, art) but our common planning time is when they have our students! Difficult to manage scheduling in schools. #sunchat
I have worked with teams of educators who had a rotating schedule that allowed EVERYONE to sit down and share - librarian, sped, ELL, counselor, admin. If everyone's voice is valued, then there are ways to accomplish this. #SunChat
Sometimes by modeling you can win people over. I had an extremely traditional T with a punitive mindset. For 3 years we worked to help her change & the going was slow. But suddenly a few things clicked & she made a complete turn around. #sunchat
Anyone else feel that the reality of being a passionate educator is one of the biggest obstacles to collab? When you’re planning, grading, growing professionally, and for many of us our Job1- parenting, collab time can be hard to find! #sunchat
Shared planning time + willingness to take risks. Collaboration requires vulnerability, whether sitting down to build potentially fragile ideas together or visiting each other's classrooms in the midst of messy learning. Collaboration means failures are more public. #sunchat
Couldn’t or could? 🤔 I would think friendship could possibly make collaboration more effective. If you’re w/ friends, you enjoy the company, relax, & you tend to be more generous w/ time. #SunChat
Anyone else feel that the reality of being a passionate educator is one of the biggest obstacles to collab? When you’re planning, grading, growing professionally, and for many of us our Job1- parenting, collab time can be hard to find! #sunchat
Collaboration for English teachers is improved when the district has enough books for texts to be taught at the same time. This is something we've been talking about. #sunchat
Thanks to each of you! I have so much respect for each of you, and appreciate the passion for growth that gets you up early in the morning to have talks like this! This growth is what makes this such a collaborative space, and I’m thankful for each of you! #sunchat
Educators must be intentional about scheduling time for collaboration. It must be frequent and have an established goal to focus on student learning. #sunchat
Routines are key! We don’t always like making the time, but when it’s valuable, we appreciate it, making it a part of our practice for the benefits! #sunchat
Perhaps the only stable element in this whole complex, dynamic endeavor: 60 second per minute, 60 minutes per hour, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 52 weeks per year. #sunchat
Another piece of successful collaboration is looking beyond titles. Admin + Teachers + Students + Parents can all collaborate together. It’s humbling when a principal asks a teacher to collaborate! Look beyond titles & see the worth of the person #sunchat
Thank you #sunchat. Off to finish progress reports and prepare for school tomorrow. But I will take time to get some fresh air today too and I hope you all do the same! Have a great week!
Yes, but the beauty of teaching English is that the curriculum spirals and we can all teach the same skills and strategies with different texts. #sunchat
I agree with you in theory, but I think "skill-based" also requires some shared core texts for equity and shared student experiences. Alignment is important to me, not just saying we're working on the same standards. #sunchat
The beginning of this thread has me thinking. I've typically landed w/flexibility described by Vashti, yet I see alignment benefits suggested by Abbey. Opportunity to try threading both/and needle: Mix time w/common anchor texts + differentiated supplements, for example. #sunchat
