Teacher Orientation Meetings
A Productive Series of Sessions Includes Variety and Participation
Perhaps the most important meeting of any school year is the opening orientation session that occurs before any student arrives on campus to begin the new term. The orientation meeting sets the tone for the new school year and seeks to integrate new teachers with veterans in a common purpose of achieving academic excellence.
The goals of the orientation meeting should include:
- Developing a sense of collegiality that will define the learning community in the months ahead
- Encouraging individual leadership and collaboration among the faculty
- A clear sense of shared mission involving administration and faculty
- Specific parameters defining school discipline and organization
- An attitude that invites personal sharing in the overall goals of the institution
- A clear mandate of mutual respect, working together, and being positive
All of these goals are difficult to express solely through lecturing or power point presentations. Facilitators should allow for lengthy group discussion, small group “break out” sessions that rotate members, and social gatherings such as lunches, mid-afternoon snack sessions, and plenty of coffee.
Incorporating the Movable Meeting Agenda
Instead of a media specialist or school librarian giving handouts and discussing the virtues of student library opportunities, a plenary session can be held in the library or media center so that media staff can demonstrate first hand what resources are available. This could include a tour of the center. Even veteran teachers will benefit, realizing perhaps for the first time that a particular resource is available.
The same procedure can be used with computer labs, special education classrooms or centers, and other significant areas of the school that complement the community’s overall goals.
Inviting Guest Professionals
Education professionals can be invited to lead mini-sessions, providing valuable insights and tips. Topics can include:
- Educating diverse learners
- Tips to motivate students
- Working with special needs students
- Certificate renewal credit opportunities during the school year
- Teacher leadership development
- Healthy tips for teachers (dietary as well as exercise tips to avoid burn-out)
- Writing student letters of recommendation
In some cases, specific school needs might dictate the topic, particularly if the school is scheduled for an accreditation review. Staff facilitators of orientation meetings can canvass teachers weeks, even months before the scheduled meetings to determine what common areas teachers would like to see addressed by outside speakers.
Covering the So-Called “Nuts and Bolts”
No orientation meeting is complete without the “nuts and bolts” of any given school year: reporting absences, sending Progress Reports, tornado and fire drills, etc. These matters, though important, should be dealt with quickly, particularly if school rules are already published in handbooks and faculty guidelines.
The collection of personal information, such as emergency numbers and medical data, should be avoided as it is counter-productive. In most cases, teachers do not even possess the required information at that time in order to fill out the required forms.
A Well Planned Orientation
Few teachers look forward to faculty meetings of any kind, seeking any excuse not to attend. Most would rather undergo a root canal than sit for hours listening to an administrator pontificate.
Orientation meetings that usually last for several days must be planned intelligently and include variety as well as on-going input from all participants. This cannot be accomplished with last minute planning.
Avoid Uncomfortable Settings
|
What do you think about this article?
More in Education & Career
Latest Articles