Collaboration among teachers provides benefits such as increased resources and opportunities for professional growth. Effective collaboration involves shared goals and accountability, well-defined roles, and active participation from all members. It is facilitated by meaningful planning time and the use of digital tools to enable asynchronous and distance collaboration. Regular reflection on collaborative efforts helps ensure they remain effective.

2. Collaboration…. often associated with ‘teamwork’

3. Collaborative CulturePositive AttributesTired InstructionPlanning ProcessOut of the Box and Join the Circle of Collaboration Shared BeliefsMeaningful InstructionShared AccountablyMutual GoalsMeaningful PlanningReflectionsDefined RolesBest Practice

4. CollaborationTeacher collaboration can be:Two teachers informally discussing a student’s progress

5. Cooperative planning

6. Long-term, regularly scheduled meetings with school stakeholders

7. Examining state standards, and research to overhaul curriculaOne of the constants, however, when educators come together to collaborate is the intellectual effort they put forth to better themselves as a group to benefit their students.

8. Hmm…

10. Positive Attributes of CollaborationIncreased opportunity to interact with their colleagues in areas of difficulty

11. Obtain greater resources, recognition and reward when facing competition for finite resources

12. Shared commitment in monitoring results and making adjustments when barriers and problems are identified;

13. Shared information and resources;

14. Opportunities for risk-taking, new roles, and continued learning;

15. Flexibility in terms of different styles and different ways to meet goals

16. Communication and cooperation

17. Ability to disagree and still work together

18. Time and opportunity to plan and build classroom structure

19. Joint decision-making

20. An increase in teacher sensitivity to other's roles and responsibilities.Planning Process

21. A clear understanding of where we have been.

22. A methodical examination of the school environment.

23. A thorough assessment of the school’s mission.

24. A clear vision of organizational goals.

25. A process to present ways of reaching those goals.

26. An inclusive, collaborative process for gathering information, ideas, opinions and intuitions on which goals and decisions are based.

27. A realization that planning never stops.Planning Process

28. Meaningful Planning For Collaboration “Commitment must be given to a data-driven curriculum, to clear and specific objectives, and to a mindset of deep purpose for meaningful planning and collaboration.”Gamble, J. (2008)

29. Meaningful Planning For Collaboration Collaborative planning requires making the time to work and learn with colleagues.

30. Develop a master schedule that includes time for shared planning time.Meaningful Planning For Collaboration Allow students to have longer instructional periods with fewer teachers through the integration and implementation of technology.Build professional development days into the school calendar that are specifically for collaborative planning .

31. Ensure that meetings (whether face-to-face or digital) provide opportunities for collaborative planning.Meaningful Planning For Collaboration

32. MEANINGFUL PLANNING KEEPS YOUR SCHOOL FROM BECOMING…

33. School-based teams use a variety of configurations as an approach for providing collaboration:Connecting People to Information and Knowledge

34. Connecting People to People