InClass

Laughter + lunch is a surefire bet.

Karl Ochsner
Seventh and Eighth Grade STEM/1:1 Learning Coordinator, Diocese of Phoenix

I have been so lucky to have had wonderful teaching partners. Move your class meeting off-site to bond over eating.  Getting out of routine, and eating in a relaxed atmosphere will have you talking about family, experiences, past teaching experiences and openly share your thoughts and ideas. Being able to trust and connect with each other is important to the bonding experience.

Marcy North
Reading Lab, Flowing Wells School District

Be FLEXIBLE!  SHARE, BEG, DIVIDE, and CONQUER and focus on everyone’s strengths.

Hannah Jones, NBCT
Assistive Technology Specialist, Kyrene School District

Laugh together!

Sara Wyffels
High School Spanish, Chandler Unified School District

Eat lunch together. Do professional development outside of school together.  For example, I am working on my National Board Certification with two of my colleagues from my department. I know that we wouldn’t be enjoying our experience as much as we are without this camaraderie.

LeAnna Wolkis Goldstein
Kindergarten, Paradise Valley Unified School District

Compliment each other on their classrooms, the way they talk to their kiddos and the ideas they share, be a cheerleader for others, bring something to your planning meetings to share with your teammates: a game, a song, a website link, a book idea.

Beth Maloney, NBCT
Fifth Grade English/Language Arts and Social Studies, Dysart Unified School District

Eat lunch together as often as possible. Talk about your passions, interests, and hobbies that are non-school related so you can discover what you have in common and get to know each other as people.

Molly Reed, NBCT
Outdoor Learning Teacher K-5, Tucson Unified School District

Chocolate.

Greg Broberg
Sixth Grade Humanities, Kyrene School District

I think you have to have established norms for any team. You have to agree what is most important and stick to it. One of the most important norms to me is to banish the term, “Well, we have always done it that way,” from a teacher’s vocabulary.

Any tips to share? We'd love to hear them!