Networking 101 for Teachers
by Jo Lein, founder of the Teaching & Leading Initiative of Oklahoma, adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University and, Leadership Coach at Tulsa Public Schools
We all know the repeated line from the classic Princess Bride. “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” If you have seen this movie as much as I have, the repetition of this line may live in your head. But we can learn about how to effectively build relationships and network from this line.
Classroom Management Workshop.
Join us to learn effective strategies for managing your classroom while being relevant, having rigor, and building meaningful relationships. Learn from veteran teachers, instructional coaches, and professional development leaders that know what it’s like to teach in today’s classroom. Dig deeper during our interactive breakout sessions specifically for SPED, Elementary, Middle, and High School teachers.
Let’s break it down:
- Polite greeting. “Hello.”
- Name. “My name is Inigo Montoya.”
- Relevant personal link. “You killed my father.”
- Manage expectations. “Prepare to die.”
Let’s say that you are meeting a parent for the first time. You have had their child, Jeremy, in class for about a week and learned a few things about him. “Hello, Mrs. Johnson (polite greeting). My name is Ms. Winslow (name). I am Jeremy’s teacher (relevant personal link). I will partner with you throughout the year to help him with his academic and social goals (manage expectations).” We often disregard the “manage expectations” portion when meeting someone new. Educators can leverage this formula when meeting anyone new but it is especially powerful for families.
Be like Inigo Montoya.
For more information about effective classroom management strategies for new teachers, please visit our Classroom Management Workshop page. We’d love to have you attend our next one-day workshop!
Jo Lein
Speaker, Leadership Development
Jo Lein is the founder of the Teaching and Leading Initiative of Oklahoma, a nonprofit organization that brings instructional coaching to under-resourced districts and trains existing leaders in areas of instructional leadership. She is also an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University and a Leadership Coach at Tulsa Public Schools.
Would you like Jo to come to your school as a Professional Development Speaker? Reach out today!