Inside the Staffroom
Build a professional learning
community in your staffroom
By Chassie Selouane
“If you’ve got enough enthusiasm
so
it
infects
other
people,
everybody is going to do better.”
– Willie Mays
W
hile the beginning of each
academic year is exciting,
it is difficult to leave the
fun relaxing vibe of the
summer and return to the alarm clocks
and daily commute. We have to take
into consideration Willie Mays’ quote,
and remember that attitude and
enthusiasm are the key to starting off
a successful school year. Most schools
have an induction week that takes
place the week before students return.
This is the perfect chance to start
building your professional learning
community in your staffroom with
small icebreakers that can help foster
a positive attitude and environment,
conducive to professional learning and
collaboration.
Plan a couple of icebreakers to help
everyone get to know each other and
set the tone you would like to see for
your staffroom. Below are a few ideas
that you can use to break the ice and
welcome your colleagues back to an
exciting new academic year.
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Continental Breakfast
Offer everyone that enters a cup of
coffee/tea, a snack and a welcome
back! Few people can resist brea kfast
snack goodies, and most people
need a cup of coffee/tea to get their
day started. A great way to win hearts
and break the ice in the staff room is
on the first day back. Simply bring a
thermos of coffee and an assortment
of teas, cups and a box of doughnuts
or croissants and set them on your
desk. You can bake them yourself or
stop at the corner store on the way into
school. Regardless of where the food
came from, sharing breakfast goodies
is a sure way to break the ice with your
colleagues and make life long work
friends.
Inspirational Quotes & A Hug
or Kiss
Chocolate can always sweeten
someone’s
attitude.
Hershey’s
chocolate hugs or kisses packaged
in little bags along with inspirational
quotes and a marking pen (red or green
ink colour) can be a nice icebreaker on
the first day of school. A great source
for the quotes is ‘Great Quotes for
Great Educators’ by Todd Whitaker.
Class Time
This book is full of wonderful quotes
to share and inspire your colleagues in
the staffroom for the new adventures
you face in a new academic year.
Decoration
Aesthetics do matter and can make a
difference. Set the example by getting
creative and decorating your work
area in a creative and unique fashion.
Make your workspace a talking point
for those who enter the staffroom. You
are sure to get comments and these
can break the ice with your co-workers.
Perhaps you can then challenge your
colleagues to a decoration contest
and have an administrator come in to
judge the creativity of the decorations.
A Smile Goes a Long Way
A smile is the simplest form of nonverbal communication. If you always
greet each person with a smile it
can make him/her feel welcome and
comfortable. First impressions cannot
be changed. If you aren’t ready to
spend the time baking, creating
treat bags or decorating your desk;
remember that the best icebreaker in
the world is a smile.