Group+04+2011

Group 4

What works best: - Look at the mission statement and share examples of how it's being integrated into classrooms. - Volunteers invite other teachers to observe their classrooms and observations are discussed at meetings. - Division meetings during lunch - Break into smaller groups. Topics are generated by the group (changes to address, concerns about schedule, curriculum, etc.) - Designate one day per week with no athletics, so that all teachers are available for meetings - Learning from each other. In-house workshops led by faculty members. - Focus on one theme for the year, such as 'Positive Psychology'. Full school is addressed by outside speaker, then the theme is discussed in division and department meetings throughout the year. - Every faculty member spends a day observing another school and comes back to discuss in small groups. - Refreshments. "Brownie Bake-Off" before the first meeting of the year. - Discussing a book that everyone has read - Bring in Upper School students, who have spent time at the Mountain School or the Island School, to speak at faculty meetings - One topic per meetings. Topic is posted ahead of time. - Bringing the faculty together to problem-solve about a particular school issue (i.e. the use of computers during study hall, cell phone policy, etc.)

What doesn't work: - End of the year meetings - Inviting in outside speakers and failing to organize a follow-up opportunity - Inconsistency - When faculty only sit with or work with other members of their division. - Art and athletics departments often have to miss meetings.