Turn-Around Teacher Institute

Teacher Teams
Registration email Kara Barrett
kbarrett@buffaloschools.org

August 10th, 2016 (1/200)9:00-3:30

Day 1
8:30-9:00 Coffee & Conversation
Please sign in by 9:00 (cafeteria)

(optional)

9:00-9:30 Welcome & Opening Remarks

Dawn DiNatale (cafeteria)
Teacher Teams: Locus for Improving Teaching & Learning
While teacher teams may have energy and enthusiasm, team members typically lack the skills,
tools, and support structures that would allow them to orchestrate significant pedagogical and
curriculum changes through the collaborative work of the team. Principals generally lack the time
and preparation to properly guide and supervise teacher teams. Teams are rarely if ever trained
in the basic skills of team facilitation, such as time management, goal setting, development of
team norms, and conflict resolution. Teams support the improvement of classroom instruction
and student achievement when they are able to: Focus on instruction; connect instruction to
curriculum; connect instructional talk to classroom practice by using assessment data; and work
collaboratively on planning lessons and conducting classroom observations. The following
sessions will focus on fostering Grade level team development to be embedded in our school
culture.
9:30-9:45 On My Mind
Barrett & Sally Tay (rm 145)
9:45-10:15 Our Teacher Teams
Walczak & Lizzie Campion (rm 147)
10:15-10:30

Kara
Jennifer

Break

10:30-11:00
The Five conditions for Teacher Teams
Kara Barrett & Sally Tay (rm 146)
11:00-11:30
Creating Team Norms
Walczak & Lizzie Campion (rm 143)

Jennifer

11:30-12:15
Our Mental Models
Ebony Bullock (rm 146)
Assumptions and values naturally select and filter information what dont I notice? Mental
models are neither good nor bad. They are, and the key is to be aware of them, their use and
their limitations. This session will help develop your understanding the concept of mental models
and how individuals make inferences based on their mental model bias.
12:15-12:45
Lunch - Sponsored by Ron Hicks
(cafeteria)

12:45-1:00 Introduce Team Collaboration Project

Dawn DiNatale (cafeteria)
1:00-3:00 Your True Colors:
Catherine
Battaglia, Ph.D.(rm 145)
How do we use our colors to understand others?
Building strong teams requires that team members learn to understand themselves and each
other. Based on Don Lowrys True Colors model, you will discover tips for understanding,
appreciating and relating to each style. Lighthearted anecdotes convey concepts in real life
situations, offering immediately useful methods for resolving conflicts, opening lines of
communication, and enhancing personal effectiveness. Convenient reference lists and a set of
color character cards are included for easy determination of your True Colors spectrum. The end
result is a celebration of the uniqueness in yourself and others.
3:00-3:30

Reflection

Turn-Around Teacher Institute

Teacher Teams
Registration email Kara Barrett
kbarrett@buffaloschools.org

August 11th, 2016 (1/200)9:00-3:30

Day 2
8:30-9:00 Coffee & Conversation
Please sign in by 9:00 (cafeteria)

(optional)

9:00-9:15 Welcome & Opening Remarks

Dawn DiNatale (cafeteria)
9:15-9:45 Privilege Walk
Cunningham (cafeteria)
9:45-10:30 Cultivating Collaboration
DiNatale (rm 147)

Colleen
Dawn

Collaboration in groups is an essential component of educational life. One needs to look further
than the current emphasis on PLC, cross-functional teams and shared leadership model. During
this presentation, participants explore the differences among cooperation and collaboration in
order reframe your thinking on how teams work together to increase student achievement.
10:30-10:45

Break

10:45-12:15
Applying the Four Agreements to Your Work
Catherine Battaglia, Ph.D. (rm 143)
The Four Agreements (Don Miguel Ruiz) gives four principles to practice in order to create love
and happiness in your life. Adopting and committing to these agreements is simple. Actually
living and keeping these Four Agreements can be one of the hardest things you will ever do. It
can also be one of the most life changing things you will ever do.
12:15-12:45

Lunch

12:45-1:15 Systems Thinking

Cullen (rm 145)

Angela

This session will focus on introduce participants to the concept of systems thinking and to look
below the surface to understand how/why outcomes are related to the design of a system .
1:15-2:30

Team Work Time

2:30-3:00

Share Out Team Projects

(cafeteria)

3:00-3:30

Reflection