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Connection. It is one of the most basic human needs according to Maslow (1943) after safety and physiological needs such as food and shelter. Whether it is with a significant other, your child, a parent, a friend, a dog, a cat – there is an inherent need in all of us to find others and create our own pack. Some researchers even claim that in order to survive, humans need connection (Liberman, 2013) and more specifically, physical and social connection (Harlow & Zimmermann, 1959). When individuals have positive social interactions, the reward circuitry in the brain is activated and wants even more social interaction (Ruff & Fehr, 2014).
Within education, if you are a teacher, your pack will probably be a group of teachers, either your grade level or content area depending on whether or not you're in primary or secondary education. In general, we try to find some commonalities with one another (ie. teaching English or first graders) and tend to fly with that flock. It’s comfortable, and who doesn’t like comfort? However, I challenge you to move beyond this comfort and to embrace the idea of connecting with others who aren’t like you. If you are open to trying some of the team building and collaboration strategies I discuss later in this post, then I am certain you will find greater fulfillment in your role.
Teacher Isolation
Isolation is a very real thing in education, and I think we all can agree that COVID amped this up times a thousand and not just for educators, but for all of us (Hagerty & Williams, 2020). Even now, almost four years after the shutdown, some are still licking their wounds from the isolation brought upon the world. But even prior to COVID, teacher isolation was prevalent as some teachers would rarely work together (Richter & Pant, 2016).
This desire for human connection not only aligns with some neuroscience (Harlow & Zimmermann, 1959; Liberman, 2013; Ruff & Fehr, 2014), but also the social sciences as working with groups can in fact broaden individuals’ self-efficacy or belief in their ability to perform because of the social nature of learning (Bandura, 1977; Vygotsky, 1978).
As a teacher, one of my biggest challenges was feeling like I was all alone in my classroom. I was the single adult amidst a group of teens. I know this might not make too much sense if you are not in education, “How can you feel isolated when you are surrounded by a group of students asking you questions, speaking with you, and learning from you?” Trust me – it’s isolating. Especially when there is a full moon and the kids are bouncing off the walls (this is a real thing I swear!).
However, when I was able to converse and just be with my peers, the seclusion I felt abated. I felt like I had a team I could rely on. This desire for human connection not only aligns with some neuroscience (Harlow & Zimmermann, 1959; Liberman, 2013; Ruff & Fehr, 2014), but also the social sciences as working with groups can in fact broaden individuals’ self-efficacy or belief in their ability to perform because of the social nature of learning (Bandura, 1977; Vygotsky, 1978). Though, in all honesty, working with a team and engaging in the suggested team building activities is just more fun and satisfying.
Unpacking Teacher Team Building and Collaboration
As a teacher, I was guilty of doing the very thing that I am asking you to question; I stuck with my pack of fellow English teachers. Even more so, I usually aligned myself with the individuals who taught the same grade level as me, which limited my pack even further. Imagine what I could have learned if I interacted with others who weren’t like me in those early days?
What if I connected or collaborated with the teachers in the other grade levels or content areas? What if I befriended some individuals from the social studies, math, or even science departments? What could we have accomplished together if we bounced ideas off one another? Cross-curricular projects? Writing projects that address not only the art of writing, but also the challenges of scientific inquiry? Or what about working with science teachers so that they can scaffold students’ reading? If I had only created those connections with individuals outside the 11th and 12th grade English teachers, perhaps I would’ve been able to do more as a teacher and feel more fulfilled. Perhaps I would have been able to help my students draw connections between what they were learning in each individual silo which we call a teacher’s classroom.
When a school’s culture embraces team building, connection and collaboration, the collective efficacy of staff can in fact increase as they feel more supported, enhancing professional and personal relationships (Moolenaar et al., 2012). When working in a supportive and connected environment, collegial relationships can flourish (Carpenter, 2017). Furthermore, social interactions can facilitate goal achievement and create environments whereby individuals want to do better for their team (Goddard et al., 2015; Goddard & Kim, 2018).
So, knowing that team building and collaboration can lead to these benefits, let’s start making a change. Let’s create environments and encourage activities that spark collegial interactions.
5 Ways to Foster Teacher Team Building & Collaboration
Creating opportunities to bring staff together to team build in order to enhance the overarching school community is something all administrators should focus on. For me, I took what I experienced as a teacher and brought that to my administrative roles. To bring down some of the barriers between departments or grade levels, I challenge you to try just one of these five tried and true ideas:
1. Intentional Grouping:
Purposefully connecting teachers who might not necessarily connect can do wonders for your school’s culture. I kid you not – there are staff members who do not know other staff members in a different department because, in all honesty, they stay with their pack. Whether it is during a faculty meeting or a professional learning opportunity, you can have teachers work with others outside their department. If it’s a faculty meeting, the short burst of time working together is enough to at least open the door and begin a friendship and new connection.
2. Classroom Visits:
Peer observations and student shadowing can not only create connections between teachers, but also develop teachers’ practice. Admin can organize coverage and give teachers an opportunity to observe a peer or shadow a student; both experiences get teachers out of their silos and create connection. From my experience, the teachers engaging in these activities start following up with one another in ways that they previously hadn’t, asking questions about a classroom management strategy or an instructional practice.
3. Committees and Teams:
As a teacher, I know being part of a committee or teacher group, like a professional learning community (PLC), might only seem like one more thing, but in all honesty, these committees and groups can be incredible opportunities to broaden teachers’ practice and foster human connection (DuFour et al., 2008; Forrest, 2021). Now, these committees and teams need to be run well, which is another discussion, but if done with fidelity, teacher participation in committees or teams can help foster connection and encourage diversity of thought.
If we intentionally incorporate opportunities for connection and collaboration with diverse individuals, we can chip away at the isolation that so many educators feel.
4. Wellness Activities:
Before you roll your eyes, I swear that hosting wellness activities for teachers is time well spent! The one professional development that I vividly remember as a teacher was the one where part of our day was spent choosing a wellness activity (ie. running, painting, cooking, etc.). I chose to run and I can still remember sweating it out with my peers and connecting with them on the run. I can also recall as an administrator being in the high school gym playing badminton with a group of teachers. Both activities brought down barriers while also being tons of fun. Now, I know every day can’t be running and badminton, but if we intersperse wellness related activities into the school year, we can create opportunities for connection.
5. Food!:
Prior to winter break, I purchased lunch for my office staff and head custodian. As we sat in the main office eating our salads and sandwiches, we had a chance to truly connect with one another. To laugh and to commiserate. One of my previous bosses would always talk about the impact of “breaking bread” with individuals, and you know what, he was absolutely right. Sitting down and eating with others is an incredible opportunity to forge relationships that can mitigate the isolation educators feel. However, I understand that some work through lunch in order to prioritize their connections at home; I get this. I do this too. But if administration really wants people to connect, they will offer job-embedded opportunities to “break bread” such as a monthly breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, or even a soup-off. Don’t pass up the opportunities within the day, the small moments when we can take a breather and connect.
One Last Thought
If we intentionally incorporate opportunities for connection and collaboration with diverse individuals, we can chip away at the isolation that so many educators feel. Whatsmore, maybe we will even form a new found friendship that will not only impact and better our lives, but better the lives of our students as we innovatively and creatively engage with those not like us and create projects and learning opportunities for our students.
By no means am I trying to over simplify the matter. We can’t just hold various team building activities or offer opportunities for committees and like magic everything is fine and everyone feels connected. Having a school environment that elevates human connection above all else is what we should be aspiring to. At the very least, we can take some tangible steps forward together as a collective to help bridge the gaps and truly foster an environment where connection matters.
References
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Congratulations on your first post! Thanks for sharing these practical and important tips on connection and collaboration.