Create a More Positive Team Dynamic with These Tips
Team planning is an essential part of being an elementary school teacher, but it can often feel like a juggling act. With multiple teachers, personalities, and teaching styles in the mix, planning sessions can quickly become chaotic. However, when done right, team planning can save you time, increase productivity, and create a more cohesive and supportive teaching environment.
I’ve got four tips that will make your team planning time more efficient, positive, and (dare I say it?) fun for the rest of this school year and beyond!
1. Set Clear Expectations and Roles from the Start
One of the biggest keys to smooth team planning is setting clear expectations right from the beginning. Before diving into lesson planning or unit discussions, make sure everyone understands the goals of the meeting and their individual roles.
Here’s how to establish clear expectations:
Define your goals. What do you hope to accomplish in each planning session? Are you aligning on the standards you need to cover? Are you brainstorming ideas for a new unit? Make sure everyone is aligned on what success looks like.
Assign roles. It's easy for things to get lost if everyone is trying to do everything. Instead, identify the strengths of each team member and assign roles accordingly. For example, one teacher might be great at gathering resources, while another excels at creating assessments. Divide tasks based on who is best suited for them.
Set time limits. Time is precious, and it’s easy for team planning to drag on. Set specific time limits for each portion of the meeting—whether it’s reviewing student data, discussing curriculum updates, or planning activities. This keeps everyone focused and prevents meetings from running over.
By setting these expectations early on, you’ll create an environment where everyone knows their responsibilities and how much time they have to work on each task.
2. Use a Shared Planning Template
A shared planning template can work wonders when it comes to organizing your meetings and keeping things running smoothly. A shared document, whether it's Google Docs, Sheets, or a tool like Trello, allows everyone to contribute in real-time and keeps all your information in one place.
Here’s how to make the most of it:
Create a weekly planning template. This could include sections such as “Learning Objectives,” “Lesson Plan Activities,” “Assessments,” “Materials,” and “Assignments.” By using a template, everyone will know where to place their contributions, and you won’t waste time figuring out what goes where.
Keep it collaborative. A shared digital space means that if someone can’t make it to the meeting, they can still contribute and stay up-to-date. It also keeps everything organized in one place, which is super helpful when you need to reference past discussions.
Track edits and updates. With a shared document, you can leave comments, track changes, and revisit decisions made during previous meetings. This is especially helpful for ongoing projects or long-term plans.
Using a shared template means less confusion, more efficiency, and a smoother planning process for everyone. Check out my Team Planning Dashboard to see the planning template that I recommend!
3. Be Flexible but Focused
While it’s important to have structure, flexibility is just as essential when it comes to team planning. Not everything will go according to plan, and that's okay! Being flexible allows you to adapt to new challenges while staying on track.
Here’s how to stay flexible:
Allow room for creativity. Give team members space to bring new ideas to the table. Encouraging creativity not only keeps things fresh but also leads to better solutions and more engaging lessons.
Adapt to student needs. Plans are important, but don’t be afraid to change things up based on how your students are responding. If a lesson isn’t working or a topic needs more time, be ready to adjust your plans accordingly.
Respect everyone’s time. If one member of your team is struggling with a task or needs help, offer support. Flexibility means understanding that everyone has different work paces and workloads.
4. Prioritize Communication and Regular Check-ins
Good communication is the foundation of a successful team planning process. If you’re not communicating well, it’s nearly impossible to be efficient.
Here are a few communication tips:
Schedule regular check-ins. If you’re planning a long-term project or unit, schedule regular check-ins to track progress and ensure everyone is on the same page. This helps prevent miscommunication and keeps the group moving forward.
Use a shared calendar. Make sure everyone has access to a shared calendar where you can list deadlines, meetings, and important dates. Google Calendar works great for this and helps everyone stay aligned.
Be transparent. If something’s not working or you need help, communicate that with your team. Transparency is key to working together smoothly and avoiding any surprises.
When communication is clear and consistent, you’ll avoid misunderstandings and save time.