In this blog post today I’m sharing 5 ways to improve team work in the classroom. Team work is important in every classroom. But as someone who has experience in working both general ed and special ed.. I can promise that it is even more important to have good team work in special education classrooms.
I think we all realize very early on in our journey that this is not a job that can be done alone.. And that we are going to need to work as part of a team. Having a healthy and supportive team around you.. Not just in your classroom but in your school too.. Will make a huge difference in your role as a teacher.
The truth is, with our careers.. We probably spend the same or even more time with our work teams that we do with our family/friends. Working together most of the day.. Most days of the year.. Means that we spend a lot of time with our work family. And because of this, we need to make sure that we get along together.
Improving Team Work
So, what are some ways that you can improve your team work and help to build a healthy, professional and supportive team where you can all rely on each other? Let’s dive in..
1. Build Professional Relationships
It’s important to build professional and positive relationships with our work team.. Even if the team members change. You want to get to the point where a simple look across the room can let us know what each other is thinking.. What our next move is going to be. Allow time to socialize with each other.. Build relationships.. Get to know each other. Having time for a chat before the day starts and at the end of the day can make a huge difference. Check in on each other – how are we all doing? Does anyone have any worries? Concerns? Suggestions?
2. Be a Good Leader
As is the natural way of life.. In every team there is a leader. The leader will also have their own leader… Who has their own team and so on. Now, with a leader, you can still follow tip number 1 in this blog post and build those professional relationships with your team members.. Including your own team leader.
However, what you have to remember is the leader is a leader for a reason. The buck stops with them. And because of this, they need to have rules and guidelines in place for everyone to follow. Now, a good leader is one who will recognize, cheer and empower their team.. As well as being the one to keep rules and guidelines running smoothly.
Don’t be a “Negative Nancy”, be a “Positive Percy.” Be a leader who your team are able to come to. Someone that they trust and will feel supported by. Be the leader that you want/need to have and you won’t go far wrong.
3. Be Clear About Roles and Responsibilities
Everyone likes to feel valued and part of the team. So ensure that you give everyone a role or responsibility and be clear about this. Be clear about who is in charge of/leading which areas and what their roles/responsibilities consist of. It’s also good to discuss how this will help everyone in the room – staff and students alike. Being in charge of an area will help your team members feel valued. They’ll feel like you trust them with something big and on top of everything else.. It will help them to stay motivated.
4. Communication
To have a strong team, you have to be sure that you are communicating well with each other. So many times I have witnessed how poor communication can have a huge effect on relationships – both professionally and personally too. Sit down with your team and find out how everyone prefers to communicate. Some people might prefer to communicate via email, but some may prefer notes, to-do lists, face-to-face communication etc. A group WhatsApp chat always works well for my team and keeping everyone up to date at once.
5. Resolve Issues Quickly – Don’t Let Them GROW
In a small workplace, with team members working closely together over a period of time, there is always going to be the possibility of conflict. Now, it’s real important that conflict is dealt with quickly and in the best way possible.. So that everyone can go back to being professional friends again at the end of it.
So how can you do this? Always ensure that everyone knows – before a conflict arises – that they know who to go to should they have an issue. The way you handle it will also be different with each team member – because everyone copes with and handles things differently.. And everyone responds differently to different types of support. The most important thing? Don’t take sides and hear everyone out. Treat everyone the same and allow everyone the chance to speak their minds, find out what the issue is and involve everyone in the decision making of how this can be resolved and where to go from here.
What are some ways you have to improve team work in the classroom? Leave a comment below to share your idea with other educators too.
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