Welcome to The Flourishing Teacher’s Field Guide. This issue will be the perfect one to share with your colleagues!

This week we’re thinking about how teachers like us can build wonderful relationships with our colleagues and overcome the challenges that so often stop us from doing so.

Let’s jump in…

When Teachers Are Too Busy To Be Social

Does this sound familiar..?

You arrive at school early and say hello to a few colleagues.

There are half-hearted suggestions of biscuits at break or a get-together sometime, but everyone’s too busy to make it happen.

You get into the classroom and set things up, mark, prepare, and deal with all the emails that have come your way, and then your learners arrive.

And for most of the day, your colleagues and the wider school community are all but a memory.

And then it’s home time.

I used to repeat this kind of work day frequently, barely speaking to my colleagues or perhaps just catching up with them at staff meetings.

And that’s not really any way to build a school community.

We’re stronger and better teachers when we collaborate, share our lives and vulnerabilities and when support one another.

It’s just that the pressures in so many schools lead teachers to live isolated, high-anxiety and lonely lives, despite the noise and energy of the classroom.

I didn’t realise how important this kind of community building and mutual reliance was until I unexpectedly left teaching for 18 months a few years ago to look after my family.

Suddenly, I really missed the community I didn’t realise I had, and it made me wish that I’d contributed more to making it a better one when I had the chance.

So, here are my top 5 strategies for building those all-important relationships in your school community, even when the days are full and overflowing…

5 Ways To Build Wonderful Relationships With Your Colleagues (And Feel Better Yourself)

The collective wisdom and strength that emerges from strong communities is unbeatable. That’s because building relationships with colleagues allows us to tap into a wider pool of knowledge and support, ultimately making us more effective teachers.

Plus, it makes life less lonely, less stressful and more fun!

1. Micro-Collaborations On The Move

Planning meetings can be a time drain, stealing precious minutes from your already packed schedule. So, why not propose quick "corridor chats" with colleagues in the short breaks between classes? Discuss a specific lesson element, swap a student behaviour management tip, or brainstorm a solution to a shared challenge. These brief exchanges keep ideas fresh while maximizing your planning time.

2. Positivity Power In The Staffroom

The daily grind can sometimes leave us feeling depleted. So this is where being a Marigold comes into play! While grabbing a quick cup of tea, scan the staffroom for a colleague who seems down. A genuine compliment like "That lesson plan looks fantastic!" or "I loved your student shout-outs yesterday" takes seconds but can significantly boost someone's spirits. You’ve just got to do it with consistency and authenticity. Positive reinforcement fosters a supportive atmosphere and strengthens bonds within your school community, which ultimately leads to some awesomely positive collective outcomes.

3. Coffee Catch-Ups During Duty

One strategy that really worked for me was to formalise those chats we all have when we’re doing something else. Instead of thinking of a quick catch-up as something that happens at a different time than the important stuff, recognise that those quick catch-ups ARE the important stuff. Feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list? Combine your supervisory duties with quick chats to tick things off the list. If you're both on playground duty, use a lull in activity to discuss a student or share a funny anecdote. These informal chats build connections and camaraderie without sacrificing valuable prep time.

4. Unleash The Power Of ‘Help’ via Email

How often do emails that make your heart sink drop into your inbox? Another thing we have to do, and no extra time to do it. However, don't underestimate the power of a quick email when it comes to the topic of help. Need a behaviour management strategy for a specific student? Facing a planning roadblock on a particular topic? Send a message to a colleague with your question and ask for their thoughts. Equally, send an email that says “If you need any help, I’m right here.” Those very simple acts have the power to bring the staff community together in ways that very little INSET will ever achieve.

5. Celebrate Successes Virtually: Spread Positivity and Recognition School-Wide

Social media for schools can be a great tool. So, give a shout-out to a colleague's accomplishment in the school's internal platform. This publicly acknowledges their achievements and strengthens your bond. Celebrating successes, both big and small, fosters a positive and collaborative school environment. The more you can be a virtual cheerleader for your colleagues, the more you’ll develop those personal and collective relationships in real life.

Reading & Research

https://www.nea.org/professional-excellence/student-engagement/tools-tips/benefits-collaboration

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/unleashing-power-positivity-your-school-donna-wilson-marcus-conyers

https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/the-power-of-the-circle

https://www.nshss.org/resources/blog/blog-posts/5-strategies-for-building-community-in-the-classroom/

What Are You Waiting For?

We believe that teachers achieve extraordinary things under challenging circumstances and that we all deserve to be valued, supported and celebrated.

That’s what this newsletter is all about.

If you haven’t subscribed yet, why not join the Marigold community? You’ll get weekly strategies for sustaining your wellbeing, avoiding burnout and flourishing as a person, not just a teacher.

And best of all..?

It’s free and always will be.

You can find out more about what to expect in this weekly newsletter here, or just go straight to our sign-up form.

Don’t Miss Your Time To Doodle!

Last week we recorded a great podcast episode with an inspiring guest called Ann Skinner. Ann is a coach, mentor and NLP expert, but is also an advocate of the power of doodling!

We had a lovely chat about the power of creativity, courage and compassion and how we can find these qualities in the world around us. One of the ways Ann brings those kinds of qualities to the forefront is through her doodling practice, so we naturally talked about how teachers can make use of doodling to relieve stress and anxiety, boost their creativity and connect the heart, head and hands.

So, whilst we’re editing the episode (we’re a bit slow with that stuff sometimes), here’s the link to Ann’s website. Do yourself a favour by checking it out, watching her doodle videos and reading her wise words!

Thank You For Everything

This issue’s been all about reaching out and building communities, and nothing’s more important to us than the wonderful Marigold community we support.

We know life’s busy, but we’re so proud of each and every one of our readers and honoured that you give your time to supporting the work we do.

So from us to you, a huge thank you for all you do and all you are.

Don’t forget today’s key takeaways:

In next week’s issue, we’ll be looking at the critical role that sleep and rest play in our wellbeing and trying to work out how we teachers can get more of it!

Until then, remember, you’re more than your marking, your lesson observations and your planning.

You’re you. And that’s all you need to be.