I am never a fan of meetings. I have been to many that are usually poorly organised, the topic is not relevant at the time or they get hijacked by that one particular teacher who has too much to say about everything.

I usually walk in, look at the time and start counting down the minutes till the meeting is over.

However, it isn’t always that bad and it shouldn't be like that. I just have way more things on my list that could be taking priority at that particular time.

So these are my top tips on how to make teacher meetings or professional learning more engaging and interesting;

Listen to a ten-minute podcast or Youtube motivational video first up to inspire the team or there are fearless motivation videos on Spotify
Ask teachers to share something that worked well in your classroom during the week in less than a minute
Be strict with your meeting times. Stick to a defined time period for beginning and ending. No one likes meetings to drag on. Everyone is expected to be on time so you can get started straight away
Make sure to stick to the agenda during your meetings. Release the agenda the day before the meeting and ask for any extra points for discussion that need to be added
Ensure there is a purpose for the meeting. Don’t just have one for the sake of it
Try to include different things in your meeting such as circle time, a brain break, hands-on activity, teamwork, partner responses - things you would use in the classroom to engage your students
Use the whiteboard for brainstorming. Pass out post-it notes for teachers to write their ideas on, to feedback to the group
Make an effort to include all teachers in their meetings - especially the quiet ones. They have an opinion too, just ask for it in a kind and considerate way
Cancel meetings if it is report time and gift this time to teachers so they have extra time for completing their reports
Have someone take minutes and save on your drive for everyone to refer back to if needed
Delegate. Don’t assume all responsibility because you are in a leadership position and don’t allow one person to take on more than their share. Everyone is capable of offering something. It is also important to know your teams’ strengths and to draw on these
Survey teachers at the beginning of the year topics of which they would like further development so these can be covered throughout the year. Covering things teachers have an interest in will engage them more especially if they feel they have had a say in it
Send out an email or message after the meeting for anything that did not get covered or needed clarification

If you are a leader or exec how do you ensure your meetings are meaningful? Or what do you notice your leaders do to inspire and pick you up as a teacher? We would love it if you joined the conversation and left a comment below.

Making Meetings Meaningful

LET’S CONNECT