Our Impact...

In everything we do, we know that the teacher matters. It is at the root of student success. Even greater is the impact that we have on kiddos when we have what Hattie calls "Collective Teacher Efficacy." This is the impact that a group of teachers have on student success. In a situation where there is a highly effective team, students can make up to 4 years worth of growth.

With that in mind it brings to the forefront the essential need for Professional Learning Communities. In PLCs where teachers come together it isn't so much that they come together and what they do, but the conversations on "how and why" and shared responsibility for all aspects... student, classroom, curriculum, planning (regardless of particular content/planning expertise), instruction and assessment.

As we think about our Problem of Practice and the area of planning and transparency it is not only logical, but holds us accountable to our own goals for continuous growth and improvement to evaluate how we are performing as grade level teams and as a campus. The following brief article helps define the stages of a team:

Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing

Understanding the Stages of Team Formation (1)

Where is your team as a whole? This graphic supports what was discussed in the above article:

Often teams begin as a working group and then slip into the "playing nice" or psuedo team. While it seems on the surface to be working, there is a lack of transparency and growth is non-existent. It is only with the establishment of norms (that can/should adjust as needed) and some appropriate storming that the team can move toward a potential team and eventually become a real team. When all team members take a role of leadership, owning the "how and why" together, that is when the team moves to a high performing team and we see a truly collaborative culture. It is in this place we have our greatest impact.

Take time over the next few weeks to reflect and determine, where are we as a team, what are your personal goals for your team, what roles can you share or take on to bring everyone to that place of being a high performing team that creates "Collective Teacher Efficacy."

(1) "Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing: Understanding the Stages of Team Formation." Mind Tools. Mind Tools Editorial Team, n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2016. <https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_86.htm>.