S'More From The AP
Week Ending Sept. 23, 2016
Team Collaboration - Fine Arts
When we were asked to write about collaboration as a fine arts team, the first thing that came to mind was all of our programs and how we help each other to make them work for the whole school. Then something else occurred to us that everyone can relate to and that is being an island and needing help.
When you are in fine arts rotation, you see every kid in the school once a week. While at first glance the thought of only writing one day's worth of lesson plans and getting to teach it for 5 days might seem easy yet it has it’s own challenges. Each teacher has their own style of classroom management and each class has it’s own dynamic. So there never really is the same lesson from day to day. Without talking to each other on the fine arts team we would all be stranded islands. Luckily we have built bridges and even send up flairs every now and then to all be on board. It helps us to know our kids better and even you the teacher better.
We are not in this alone and neither are you. Talk with us, let us know what is working in your class with your students and who to be on the watch for. Let us know what they are working for so we can encourage that as well. We can’t do this alone and thank God that we have this village!
Fine Arts is an interesting team. We are all so departmentalized and encompass all grades that it can sometimes be overwhelming. When we do a program it is school wide which means that we have to plan not only for ourselves but for the whole school. It is like a field trip on overdrive. Yet the show must go on so while we plan for big events we are still teaching too.
There is no way that we can do it alone. You know us, if you ask us to consider something we will and try to deliver our very best. That is the great part about working with a team like ours. We truly each have our own domains but know that there is still so much to be learned from each other. Because each member on our team is out to help the others it creates the level of support we each need to be successful for our individual events. Again, we cannot do it alone!
There is so much scheduling involved and communication required to do anything because what we do affects the whole school. We sit down and plan the year to come in May. It does not stop there, we work behind the scenes in a lot of areas and we each have obligations in our own disciplines within our zone, district and state levels. We serve on committees both school, district and statewide. There is not one single fine arts program that is not fighting to stay in schools somewhere in Texas so we each act as advocates for our programs and passions. Again, we might be islands in our own area but together we are united and we are the fine arts team. Get ready for an amazing year, we have great things planned!
The Principal Ponders
What Makes Your Team Tick?
I think it is safe to say that everyone has experienced being a part of a team, whether it be your grade level team, a temporary team/group during an inservice or meeting, or a standing committee, where everything and everyone just “worked.” You know, the Dream Team experience. On the flip side, sometimes those groups may have been more like the Nightmare on Elm Street, with someone monopolizing the discussion, someone who seems to know or have done everything, and of course the one who contributes nothing.
Well, push the nightmare out of your head and think back to the Dream Team…..Ahhhhh! Isn’t it wonderful? Maybe you don’t even need to think back. Maybe you are in the midst of the Dream Team experience right now! Either way, go to that happy place and think about what was it or what is it that made or makes your team tick like a well oiled machine?
When I think of some of the best teams on which I have worked, I can describe most of the members as having a strong work ethic, being open-minded, and being creative. However, there are over-arching characteristics that I believe all members of a team must posses in order for it to truly “tick.”
· A genuine respect for the other team members
· A willingness to share ideas and resources
· The desire to establish common goals
· The willingness to share the load, fairly and equally
· A desire for true collegiality – no one believes “I’m better than you.”
Does this mean that everyone has to think exactly alike or do the exact same thing as his or her colleague? Absolutely not! Each team member’s unique strengths and talents is what makes for the most dynamic of teams. Recognizing those strengths and utilizing them for the goals the team sets is where the real genius lies. So unleash your inner genius STARS – you all have one! With that genius, on top of a foundation of respect, trust and collegiality, we can all stay off of Elm Street and develop the best teams possible!