The relationships formed between teachers are critical. They can make or break a school year, and be the difference between loving your job or loathing it. Relationships matter SO MUCH, and without a cohesive team, you could be in for a very difficult year.
Taking steps to proactively plan for cohesiveness within your grade-level team will pay dividends throughout the school year. You can prevent potential disagreements, awkwardness, and infighting by beginning with the goal of laying a solid, strong foundation of cohesiveness within your team.
It sounds like an overwhelming task, especially if not all personalities on your team quite “jive.” But don’t despair, I have some ideas to help build cohesiveness within your team.
- Give a warm welcome
Whether you’ve worked together for years, or are brand new teammates, you can warmly welcome your team cheerfully with a small offering, like a cup of coffee, a bag of their favorite candy, a thoughtfully written note, a lunch out, or something else you know he/she would enjoy. Starting with this generous gesture will soften your teammates and help show your desire to be pals. Maybe you are reading this, and the school year is well underway. If so, find a point during the school year, maybe after a break, and use that first day back as an opportunity to warmly welcome your team back.
- Offer praise and encouragement
This may sound over-the-top, and I definitely don’t mean for it to be that way! Look for opportunities to praise or encourage your teammates. When you see one of your teammates doing something you admire, whether it’s great procedures or just keeping it together when dealing with a difficult student, don’t just think those positive thoughts… speak them!
- Help teammates feel secure by avoiding gossip and demonstrating trustworthiness
Once I had a teammate who knew things about nearly everyone in the building, and freeeeeeeeely shared that information. I couldn’t help but wonder if she was spreading information about me, too? Probably! I never felt I could trust that teammate, and always stayed a bit guarded around her, just to be sure I didn’t say anything I wanted kept private. On my team, I make sure to keep team matters between us, and prove myself trustworthy.
- Don’t be cliquey!
I’ve been the third wheel on a team before. It totally sucks. There are inside jokes, a shared understanding of practices and processes, planning time chat sessions, and much more….and you aren’t a part of it. 🙁 Don’t let someone on your team be the odd one out! Smash clique-like behavior within your team, because it’s divisive and hurtful. Be inclusive, even if you have to try extra hard to bring new team members into the fold.
- Have a special team “thing”
Whether it’s taking turns picking up coffees every Friday, buying matching t-shirts, or having a night out together once a month, find something FUN and make it your team’s “thing!” One year, my team’s “thing” was getting iced teas every so often (one of us would pick them up on our lunch break) and having Peanut Butter M&M parties once a month on our planning time. We connected, laughed, shared and grew together in these moments. And in hindsight, these were some of my favorite memories during that school year.
- Let your hair down a little… at a team outing!
There’s never a better way to get real with your team than to go out together, laugh, share stories, and step out of your “teacher” environment for a bit! Whether you decide to go out to dinner, go bowling, get together at someone’s home, or something else, have fun together. You’ll get closer and know one another so much better.
Remember, relationships are everything on grade-level teams. They can help you get through the hardest days, or make a difficult year even more stressful. Put in the effort to build the kind of relationships you want. It is time well spent!
