I am heading into my third year as a second grade teacher. The past two years have brought a lot of change in terms of staff. With a lot of people coming and going, it can be hard to build trust in colleagues. The truth is, you can't afford to be an outsider. What I have found is that sometimes it takes putting your neck out a bit to help others before they will trust you. The danger in doing this is worth it. If you think teaching is a solo effort, you are probably in the wrong field. You may work in school district that is full of gossip, and where things seem divided like the Hatfield and McCoys but you have to realize you are there for a reason. Here a few tips to start building some connections:
  1. Avoid building close relationships with those that talk about other people. They are most likely talking about you when you are not there.
  2. Find one or two people that love their job, and invest their best in their student. These people will always bring out the best in you.
  3. Never ever join sides in a battle against another group of teachers. Divisions never lead to a better work environment.
  4. Don't be afraid to spend some time with co-workers outside of work. People are easier to connect with outside of the work place.
  5. Keep your door open.
  6. Eat in the teacher's lounge. Even if it is full of gossip and cheap shots, be the one above the noise. People will notice and eventually you should find a person to connect with.
There are many other things you can do to build connections, but hopefully this will get you started. Got a great idea to add? Leave a comment.