Send a meeting agenda ahead of time and ask if there is anything not on the schedule that should be included. This gives staff members an opportunity to suggest topics that are important to them.
Providing an agenda allows your staff to prepare for each topic. According to an article from Connected Principals, “conversations that are thought-out rather than reactive are much more powerful,” which can lead to increased efficiency for your meeting.
The same article also suggests limiting the number of items on the agenda. Planning too many different topics can lead to information overload – which means your teachers may leave the meeting having absorbed little, if any, useful information. By leading a more focused meeting, you’ll have time for deeper conversations, and teachers will have time to contemplate each concept.
2. Start with an Icebreaker
Not only do icebreakers help old and new staff start to get to know each other, they set an energetic pace for the start of the school year. When selecting your icebreaker, remember to take your audience into consideration. You know your staff best, so pick an activity you think caters to the group dynamic.
Click here for seven icebreakers from School Leaders Now, focused on team building and establishing a positive culture.
You can also find 10 budget-friendly icebreaker games from huddle, here.
Tag us on Facebook and let us know what icebreaker games work best for your staff. We’d love to share your ideas in an upcoming blog!
3. Discuss Goals
Share school-wide goals and discuss with your staff how to make these goals a reality. In addition to this, have your staff establish their own goals for the year, and ask if there is anything other teachers or the administrative staff can do to help these be achieved.
If you’re having trouble formulating tangible goals, both school-wide and staff-specific, follow “S.M.A.R.T. Goals” guidelines to ensure these objectives are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Bound.
4. Create a Checklist for Your Staff
An article from the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals suggests assembling a to-do list for your staff, detailing all tasks that must be completed for the upcoming school year. Listing all pressing items in one place means you won’t have to spend valuable meeting time going over each one. If you deliver this list digitally, include a link to any forms or relevant websites. This extra step on your end saves time for everyone on staff!
Beyond official requirements, you may also remind your staff of a few last-minute tasks:
5. Keep an Eye on the Time
No one needs to remind you that there is still so much to be done before the doors open for the students. We know you want to use your time wisely, so here are some tips that can help you cut down the length of your meeting:
6. Create a Positive Environment
You want to have the most successful professional development day possible, so here are a few extra steps from Connected Principals and the George Lucas Educational Foundation that you can take to establish a positive environment for your meeting: