SHARED NORMSDeveloping a set of shared norms for the new K-12 school.

How can we as a group of new colleagues build a professional learning community which enables us to work collaboratively and develop shared norms for positive teaching strategies within a K-12 setting?

Actions:Investigate established schools and modelsVisit each other’s campusesInvestigate the capability of developing

shared norms within the Engage domain of E5

Facilitate substantive conversations.

“For classroom teachers, the open plan classroom was akin to positioning a newly designed open cockpit of a 747 jet in the passenger compartment surrounded by 250 exuberant, noisy customers and ordering the pilot to fly the plane with patience, empathy and skill.

“For many children it was a loud, chaotic, confusing nightmare. Teacher stress levels rose dramatically, mainly because of the noise, the interruption, and the confusion of housing so many children in one space.

“Diverse teaching styles, effective in self-contained classrooms, often proved inappropriate in this throng of lively youngsters....

“It wasn’t long before distraught teachers appeared in droves at principal’s doors pleading for walls or partitions...gradually the gurus at head office were forced to eat crow”

(Dr David McDonald Former Ontario Principal) 

Shared NormsCross campus visits and our work on E5 at our

PLATO days have made it clear that this an area that we need to work on. It is one of the basic building blocks that we need to establish in order to go forward in a positive, productive and supported way for all staff and students.

Think, Pair, ShareThink about what routines you use in your

classroom and list them.

Think, Pair, ShareNow pair with a staff member from your own

campus to discuss your ideas.

Domain: EngageWhere are you?Level 1 The teacher promotes a safe and orderly learning

environment by providing the class with rules and modelling expected behaviours.

Level 2The teacher maintains a productive learning environment by

conveying behavioural and learning expectations for all students which are referenced to school values.

Level 3The teacher negotiates learning routines and protocols forinteractions with students.Level 4 The teacher refers to shared norms in their interactions

with students and shares responsibility with them for reinforcing protocols.

Think, Pair, ShareNow get into groups of five or six with a mix of

primary and secondary to share your ideas.

As a group make a list of the five most important routines that have come from your discussion and list them on the paper provided.

Some areas you may like to discuss or include:Lining up/ entering classroomsPutting bags away/ using and accessing

lockersGaining student attentionActivity transitions/ moving from one lesson

to anotherMoving around the schoolDismissing students

Where to from here?Using today's input we will begin to work on a

document of shared norms for both campuses to use and implement next year in preparation for the merger in 2013.

It is anticipated that you will have the opportunity to be part of further discussions before the final draft is produced and presented at the beginning of next year.

“It is easier to establish routine initially and then relax them than it is to re-establish them once control is lost” (Arthur, Gordon and Butterfield 2003)

Don’t ForgetHave a look at the BLOG

www.boroniak-12.blogspot.com

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