Virtual teams have additional layers of complexity because everyone is not in the same room. Do not multi-task (do other work) during the meeting. The Spanish norms … It’s easy for staff meetings to devolve into complaint sessions. This elevates every discussion because no one is mired in feeling like a victim. a list of agreed to meeting guidelines). To create that understanding, as well as buy-in, students should be at the center of the discussion that creates the norms. Below are some tips to help you focus and prepare for developing remote learning norms. It’s kind of a no-brainer, but honoring time limits shows respect and consideration for one another. Problems or negative feedback are discussed directly and … But it’s essential for the entire faculty to approach meetings with an open mind, listening ears, and a commitment to working together respectfully for the benefit of all. If you have to run a teacher meeting and … 1. Listening to one speaker at a time in a group conversation is a bit tricky with video conferencing because there is that tiny bit of lag time. Ideas, Inspiration, and Giveaways for Teachers, Practical advice, inspiration, and tools for K-12 school leaders. The teacher can use questions and wonderings to guide the process. Although these norms were originally developed to support school-based teams as they work through the Data Wise Improvement Process, we have found that they can be useful in a variety of settings, from teacher team meetings to central office workshops to faculty meetings at colleges and universities. Copyright © 2020. The scheduled start time is when talking should This is where meeting ground rules come in to play. ), Join the WeAreTeachers Influencer Network. All rights reserved. Review the ‘purpose’ for setting norms (e.g. Have you had an experience with ground rules that could benefit others and help set the tone for respectful school staff meetings? You may use these sample team norms as a starting point, but each team needs to go through the process of generating and committing to its own team norms… Here are some of the factors you might want to include in your poll: Once you’ve gathered your poll results, bring the information to the meeting. Come and share in our Principal Life group on Facebook. Remember, this is a time to be flexible. I know this seems like a great time to give your school friends a … More resources, templates and related blog postings at www.jigsawlearningca.wordpress.com Team norms are the basic ground rules for civil discussion among coworkers that should be followed no matter what. While sweatshirts and leggings might not work for in-person school attire, are they really taking away from your online meeting? For example, if team members are failing frequently to meet their due dates, they are either overcommitting, don't care about the actions they promise to take or are not serious about deadlines. As a general rule, limiting the number of norms to 5–7 makes it easier for teams to keep them in mind. Meetings need rules, but announcing them can feel authoritarian. Times are hard, and we’re all stressed. She has 15 years of classroom teaching experience and a master's degree in literacy education. Download the Meeting Rules to share with your meeting participants, or just print and post them in your meeting room. Download the Zoom app. Some school districts have been getting in social media hot water by trying to regulate what students and teachers wear during online learning. Expectations and norms about business meetings in general differ across cultures. My norms are set up to build positive student mathematical identities in my students (knowing 2/3 to 3/4 of my students enter my classroom having some negative views of mathematics). There’s nothing worse than showing up on time, ready to go, and having to sit around waiting for colleagues to join a meeting. Let’s Face It, Many of Your Staff Meetings Could Probably Be Handled With an Email. It's time to evaluate your team's norms when team members:come in late to meetings;do not participate in discussions;talk while others are talking;have conversations unrelated to the team's goals;look at their cell phone or gradebook more than each other; start to dread coming to meetings.This one p Set aside time together to build one another up with shout-outs, encouraging words, brilliant hacks, and success stories. Use the mute button at your site to prevent the transmission of background noise. Elizabeth Mulvahill is a teacher, writer and mom who loves learning new things, hearing people's stories and traveling the globe. Share your experience (not others’) Allow every voice to be heard. Let your grade/content level teams set the agendas for the meeting. Send out a simple anonymous poll and ask staff to prioritize those factors that adversely affect staff meetings the most. It’s a waste of time to come to a meeting filled with complaints, but that’s what many people do. Raising your hand in class is simple, but getting the teacher’s attention in a synchronous class is more difficult. 3. What It … This can give you much-needed information before you establish those ground rules. How do you ensure that your time together is productive and effective? Being able to see each other reminds us that we’re part of a team with a common goal. PREPARATION: Before the meeting, write the list of norms at the right on a sheet of chart paper and post on the meeting room wall. Tips. During staff meetings, suggest that everyone try their best to find a quiet place, let others know they are unavailable, and close their doors. Kimberley is a Senior Editor at WeAreTeachers. Great meetings don’t just happen Form objectives: Provide a format for you to adapt to develop meeting norms that fit your team and circumstances Help you apply the phrases in Perfect Phrases for Virtual Teamwork Tips: Seek agreement on meeting practices early on – such as in the pre-launch phase onto your computer or phone. Oh, and nobody cares if your roots are showing or your office is messy! 6 Armstrong Road | Suite 301 | Shelton, CT | 06484, $10,000 IN PRIZES! Create faculty “base teams.” (Get more information on breakout rooms here.) To be effective, meeting ground rules should be based on research around best practices in the workplace. Provide examples of norms by posting the list of norms that appears on Page 5 of this issue of Tools for Schools. Teachers who are over-tired or unfocused can’t be there for students. As many school districts go into the new school year with at least some of their operations online, school leaders are wondering how to plan effective online faculty meetings. You know those times you need to suggest that people shouldn’t reheat last night’s fish dinner in the staff room microwave? Decisions that affect everyone at your school should involve everyone in your school. Basically, staff meetings with teachers are a very difficult thing to get "right". They set the expectations for the group, encourage risk taking and participation, and establish accountability. A sample team norms document, created for grade 1 collaborative team meetings. Some people may not feel they’re doing anything wrong, because we all have different tolerance levels when it comes to actions and behavior. When the status quo becomes putting your thoughts out there, people feel more empowered. Meaning is in the listener. Honor this time as an opportunity to touch base and share ideas. HOLIDAY GIVEAWAYS FOR TEACHERS, Classroom Coding & Robotics … Everything You Need to Get Started, Protected: Classroom Talk-to-Text Project, 15 Virtual Icebreakers to Cheer Up Your Online Meetings, The Bitmoji Craze Has Arrived at the Principal’s Office, 25 Inspiring Second Grade Writing Prompts (Free Printable! So many of us are feeling isolated and overwhelmed. Here are a few sample meeting norms that I have found to be effective: We will be engaged and present during our time together and limit our use of electronic devices to emergencies only. use existing set of team norms, select individual norm for that meeting, etc.) Norms are posted prominently in the classroom and serve as the reference point for all conversations about interactions among students and between students and teachers. This is particularly ironic since as teachers, we know to do this with our students and spend countless lessons teaching them these precious skills. What needs must be met in order to solve the problem? Copyright © 2020. These are the 3 rules she built classroom norms around in her classroom this week. Add your picture to your ; zoom account profile. Being able ... 2. Wear what makes you comfortable. And doing so effectively requires full attention to the business on hand. By now, we’ve all witnessed things like dogs jumping onto laps, kids running in and out of the room, doors slamming, and doorbells ringing. Faculty meetings provide teachers and staff with information, support, motivation, and inspiration. This is a great handout for parents and teachers to describe developmental articulation acquisition. We’re dealing with loss and change and upheaval. Try opening your meeting with something fun, such as one of these 15 Virtual Icebreakers to Cheer Up Your Online Meetings. Collaborate with staff on developing norms for expected behavior. There are three parts of the virtual meeting for which you should set norms: before, during, and after the meeting. Virtual Learning, Leader Resources, Teacher Resources Here’s a quick infographic you can share with your team to help establish new norms for virtual meetings … Even though we had a taste of online learning and communication in the spring, we’re all still learning. Norms govern the behaviors of the members in the learning team. Many of you are familiar with the Seven Norms of Collaborative Work (Garmston, R.J. and Wellman, B.M. What doesn’t bother you might distract someone else. 3. It’s a waste of time to come to a meeting filled … This concise volume offers an effective and efficient set of tools and routines that we have found highly useful in organizing our work. Here are a few simple tricks that will help you look your best on video chats. Team norms can be developed during an early team meeting, preferably the first meeting, and more norms can be added as the team deems their addition necessary. • Less is more. Finally, make sure that your staff sees meetings as a place to discuss the undiscussable. Once you’ve established ground rules and agreed to them, use those rules to help bring everyone back to center regularly. Either prior to or at the beginning of the school year, you must 1. Norms represent promises made between team members, ensure commitment and trust, protect team members, and strengthen the learning team experience for every member. SIDE NOTE: I am a big fan of Sophie Kasahara, a 3rd year teacher in St. Paul , MN. 3. To make sure every meeting doesn’t go down the rabbit hole of negativity, welcome complaints, but let people know they must be followed with two possible solutions for your team to evaluate. Here are sample process norms or group guidelines that a team might use to effectively conduct its business. Identify process for determining norms or agreements for meeting (i.e. The more you can keep the main thing the main thing, the more productive and effective your meetings will be. It takes a little practice, but ask participants to keep their microphone on mute unless they are speaking and encourage everyone to take a beat before they jump in. Available in Spanish and English all in one handy document! We are a tough crowd and we are trying to preserve every ounce of energy to stay awake so there's very little left for being an engaging audience! 4. Stay in One Spot during the Zoom. A review of the literature (Köhler & Gölz, 2015) showed, for example, ... None of the groups made a distinction between a student meeting a teacher and a teacher meeting a student. Although it’s tempting, resist the urge to multi-task. 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