Monday 9-10 p.m. EST. Building a Culture of Learning. "We invite all educators, parents, students and any member of a school community to join our mission of moving away from compliance to create and foster a true COL."
Good evening. I’m Frank Bellomo, an Elementary Principal from Macomb, MI. Thanks for joining us tonight as we discuss busting silos and barriers in education. #COLchat
Happy Monday & welcome to #COLchat.
Ever notice how SOMETIMES it seems as if everyone is doing their own thing, in isolation from others in the school or district, as if everyone is working in his or her own silo?
Let’s talk about how to change that!
Good evening. I’m Frank Bellomo, an Elementary Principal from Macomb, MI. Thanks for joining us tonight as we discuss busting silos and barriers in education. #COLchat
A1. Existing groups/people and culture may have created the silos that act as barriers. Unfortunately, people may follow suit without asking questions or sharing ideas. This can lead to things continuing to be done a certain way whether they be good or not. #COLchat
A1. Silos can form when we assume rather than take the time to learn. When we don’t understand all the parts or ways of our buildings or teams, we operate on our own island. Things stay the same, people don’t feel supported, and the culture suffers. #COLchat
A1: I think a piece of it is that each of us has so much to do, that at times it becomes difficult to reach beyond ourselves and work with other as much as we should. #COLchat
Time to set egos aside, do away w the silos and “one holder of all knowledge” systems in a lot of our schools ... great ideas should live beyond just one person. #COLchat
Time to set egos aside, do away w the silos and “one holder of all knowledge” systems in a lot of our schools ... great ideas should live beyond just one person. #COLchat
A1: We have build barriers between schools and community for necessary security reasons, but it seems to also make parents, community and even students sometimes feel unwelcome. #COLchat
A2. The silos “perhaps unintended barriers” might only serve the purpose they were intended for at a previous time. Over time the silos only end up being walls that divide teams and prohibit growth. #COLchat
Q1: Silos in ed originated out of necessity bc collaboration & letting colleagues in on the struggle was not valued as much as “survival” and “not smiling” until Christmas for new Ts back in the day. Creatives independently experimented to grow. #COLchat
A1: Silos may develop when Ts believe if they aren't on the committee, they don't have a say. Teams like school improvement seem almost like an exclusive club when not given time to share and get feedback from others. #colchat
Time to set egos aside, do away w the silos and “one holder of all knowledge” systems in a lot of our schools ... great ideas should live beyond just one person. #COLchat
A1: We have build barriers between schools and community for necessary security reasons, but it seems to also make parents, community and even students sometimes feel unwelcome. #COLchat
I think sometimes it can helpful to distance ourselves from the negativity & surround ourselves with positive people who motivate us to be better, like my pals @MrMarinello & @LesleyLuft#COLchat
A2: Silos definitely serve a purpose. Many decisions in the school/district setting are time-sensitive. Effective councils, committees, and teams are needed in order to produce in a timely manner! #colchat
A2: I think sometimes it can helpful to distance ourselves from the negativity & surround ourselves with positive people who motivate us to be better, like my pals @MrMarinello & @LesleyLuft#COLchat
Q2: Silos can give some independent space for good ideas, but downside is that the good ideas don’t expand. Also, bad practices are hidden away and isolated Ts hit roadblocks wo support. #COLchat
#COLchat The silo mentality exists when there is a lack of collaboration within departments or even within itself. People have become so overwhelmed with change, evaluations, expectations, that at times it feels like organizations are in survival mode verses collaborative mode.
A2: I think sometimes it can helpful to distance ourselves from the negativity & surround ourselves with positive people who motivate us to be better, like my pals @MrMarinello & @LesleyLuft#COLchat
A3. Some of the barriers are the mindset that things have always been done this way. This mindset of “following suit” can exist in every part of an organization. Not wanting to rock the boat or challenge certain groups prevents change. #COLchat
We are all part of the improvement process whether you are the custodian, para-educator, secretary, teacher…etc. #COLchat Your voices should be heard. You matter and your efforts matter. #COLchat
#COLchat The silo mentality exists when there is a lack of collaboration within departments or even within itself. People have become so overwhelmed with change, evaluations, expectations, that at times it feels like organizations are in survival mode verses collaborative mode.
As a parent who advocates more school/family/community engagement, I debate about this. I do suspect there are legitimate professional reasons for each role to have their own space. #COLchat A2
Q2: Silos can give some independent space for good ideas, but downside is that the good ideas don’t expand. Also, bad practices are hidden away and isolated Ts hit roadblocks wo support. #COLchat
A2: They often do. However, the barriers are created much easier then they are dismantled. Once a system is in place, change is hard. People hang on to it. #COLchat
This reminds me of having to exp. why we are doing things a new way. For example, we have an excellent new math program. The strategies might not be what we learned back in the day but we are not teaching kids from back in the day. The hope is that we evolve and impr. #COLchat
A3: What is amazing about being a HS teacher is that the dynamic between colleagues can be same as what the students face with their friends. It can feel like HS all over again but just on the opposite side of the desk. #COLchat
A3: I think some Ts make their classroom their personal 'silo' ...closing their doors, not sharing their craft, or being willing to learn from others. #colchat
A2: They often do. However, the barriers are created much easier then they are dismantled. Once a system is in place, change is hard. People hang on to it. #COLchat
A4. Eliminating silos and barriers from education can increase our effectiveness because new ideas and ways of thinking can lead to needed change. Super Bowl teams know they need to reassess each year. If you’re not trying to improve, your competition is! #COLchat
A3: respectfully, many silos exist from my teaching career. Could start with basics like assessment practices, development of curriculum & basic adherence to a common set of principles related to the Code of Conduct. I hate admitting this ... #COLchat
A3: What is amazing about being a HS teacher is that the dynamic between colleagues can be same as what the students face with their friends. It can feel like HS all over again but just on the opposite side of the desk. #COLchat
A4. A silo is used for storage. What are we “storing"? Are we storing ineffective ideas and ways of thinking that worked in the past that are now obsolete? If so, our schools are not going to be as effective as they could. #COLchat
A4: You have to be okay with doing new things. You cannot hold on to old ideas/plans just bc that’s the way it has been done. Find that excitement that you had your first few years. Get pumped! Try! #COLchat
A4: You have to be okay with doing new things. You cannot hold on to old ideas/plans just bc that’s the way it has been done. Find that excitement that you had your first few years. Get pumped! Try! #COLchat
A4: Sharing your passion, ideas, and resources with others instead of holding them hostage will increase school effectiveness and student growth #colchat
A4: breaking down silos allows for collaboration, free flow of ideas, trying new things, taking risks, learning, and growing. All important in growth of a professional, a student, and a community. #COLchat
Q4: eliminating silos almost completely likely exists in some schools - and I expect Ts are invigorated, challenged & less fearful. My school works very hard at breaking down barriers and I think ppl appreciate the effort. Institutional norms tough to change. #COLchat
A4: I’ve had colleagues make fun of new things that I’m doing and say that it will never work. You have to be able to ignore that. Find you people. Maybe more people will join.
#COLchat
A5. Asking questions and sharing your ideas can help to break barriers in ed. Have some sort of evidence for your ideas and be ready to have follow up information for the naysayers. #COLchat
I think siloing is the most dangerous thing for the profession of teaching. It reinforces a false and dangerous idea that we are lords of our own fief, beholden to no one. It stifles collaboration and isolated us from best practices. #COLChat
Q5: Find your people in a school. Find those that are inspirational & psyched about kids & teaching. Get vocal, get active, maybe more will join. #COLchat
We are all part of the improvement process whether you are the custodian, para-educator, secretary, teacher…etc. #COLchat Your voices should be heard. You matter and your efforts matter. #COLchat
Neat term. I have never heard that before. We are fortunate to have grade levels that work together. Thank goodness for that. I know that doesn’t always happen. Lucky for us (and me) it does! #COLchat
#COLchat I believe the top down mentality, when one feels as though their opinion is not significant...can damage moral. Sometimes, despite the open communication available, support and open door policy, there may exist some who may still not feel trust.
A5: Silos exist bc trust is lacking. A clear embrace and acceptance that students are ALWAYS at the center of our work encourages us to work together. Great leaders push us to let go of old ideas and grab on to joining the TEAM. #COLchat
A5: New experiences with new people. Sometimes staying with the same people with the same mindset will forever keep you stuck in your silo. The problem is that people like the comfort of those silos. Without the push, they will stay there. So we need to push! #COLchat
Yes!
Too often we approach students from a deficit standpoint, instead of focusing on their strengths. Can't blame them for becoming frustrated. Good point! #COLchat
A5: Leadership needs to show teachers that there is a need to collaborate and bust silos #colchat Provide opportunities for PBL and co-teaching between subject areas ... Need to be creative to break silos
A6. Challenging ideas is a sure way to cause some sort of friction. In order to make the process easier, respect those with different ideas and provide reasoning for your new ideas. The more buy in you have, the sooner the barriers may fall. #COLchat
A6. Don’t be discouraged, some barriers will take longer to come down than others. They may have taken a while to be built and the culture may be tough to change. Respect those who challenge you but continue to pave the way. People will follow those they trust. #COLchat
Our schools are changing in many wonderful ways. The way we teach Ss is diff. and has to be diff. You can’t work on a 2019 Charger the same way you’d work on a 68. You need some new tools. You need a different manual. You need a different approach. #COLchat
Get advocates representing different roles -- colleagues, administrators, parents -- and by building partnerships, they can demonstrate themselves the value of including each voice. #COLchat#A6
This can be true. It’s a shame because the very best PD can be found within our own buildings in teachers visiting/observing and learning from other teachers. #COLchat
A7: transparency and buy in. There has to be a logical reasoning for the actions. The reasonable people with the best interest of the students will pull the others along. They can’t feel like there is a secret motive. #COLchat
A7. Knowing your team can develop cohesiveness.The more you know about your team the stronger the relationships will be. Culture trumps strategy.Visit your classrooms, your buildings, departments, and communicate. Know your strengths,weaknesses and how to support them. #COLChat
Teachers need time to network and collaborate ... TOO much reinventing the wheel all over the place: Need an avenue to build lessons etc together for good of all students #colchat
We have all done things in ways we would not do them now. You can’t change what you don’t know. We would all be better if we could go back in time. Now, our opportunity is to be better today than we were yesterday and to be better tomorrow than we were today. #COLchat
I always felt there were limits to simply saying "my door is always open." That doesn't by itself invite people in. Relationships aren't built behind a door. #COLchat
Q8: TAKE ACTION: What will you do this week to dissolve a barrier within your school or district that will lead to increased efficiencies and or effectiveness of the organization? #COLchat
A8. Continue to communicate with various groups in our building and continue to foster and build positive relationships. Communicate with those that provide you your biggest challenge. #COLChat
A4: I’ve had colleagues make fun of new things that I’m doing and say that it will never work. You have to be able to ignore that. Find you people. Maybe more people will join.
#COLchat
Data when used appropriately can be a powerful tool. Data that compares apples to apples is helpful. It’s got to be reliable for others to buy-in. #COLchat
Yes need encouragement to step out of our rooms and do more! Seems like if you try you get just more work .... #colchat No real incentives for districts to collaborate with others ... seems to much of a competitive nature in ED right now
GREAT #COLchat tonight! Thanks, all for joining, loved hearing from so many new contributors, as well as some of the regulars.
Sorry I fell behind a bit. TweetDeck was giving me some issues.
A8: We have nearly 60 K-12 science teachers reviewing the district’s science program. We are removing barriers and silos by asking teachers to share their perspective across 16 schools. #COLchat
A8: We have nearly 60 K-12 science teachers reviewing the district’s science program. We are removing barriers and silos by asking teachers to share their perspective across 16 schools. #COLchat
A8: We have nearly 60 K-12 science teachers reviewing the district’s science program. We are removing barriers and silos by asking teachers to share their perspective across 16 schools. #COLchat
Thanks again for chatting with us tonight. I have enjoyed learning with you. You guys had some really great ideas! Have an awesome week with your school communities! #COLchat
Co-teaching can be great. I have seen it more in middle school than elem. but what a great way to collaborate and play upon each other’s strengths and learn from each other. #COLchat
#COLchat is normally the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month, but October has a 5th Monday, so we are going to have a BONUS #COLchat.
Join us on 10.29.18 at 9PM EST.
Great ideas Steven. Thanks for sharing them! I love Smore. Walt introduce me to that this year and I have used it for our newsletters to staff and parents. Great APP for communication. I gotta check out the others. #COLchat
In reply to
@curriculumblog, @LiveBinders, @SmorePages, @padlet, @voxer
I always felt there were limits to simply saying "my door is always open." That doesn't by itself invite people in. Relationships aren't built behind a door. #COLchat
