How can you build a network of teachers in a different subject area?

Identify your goals and interests. Use online platforms and tools. Attend events and workshops. Follow up and stay in touch. Seek and offer help. Keep learning and growing

My work experience has shown that forming a network during side activities, especially sports like mountain climbing, is very effective and helpful.

In my experience I think collaborating with a teacher teaching in the same domain to create teaching material, sparks a lot of new ideas and helps you to get out of a monotonous way of teaching. Variation is important and is supposed to be practised by the educators to improve his/her lecture delivery!

??? One of the first steps to cultivating a robust teacher community is discovering that sweet spot where your educational passions align. ???? ?? Shared Interests, Goals, and Challenges: Seek out teachers who share your interests, whether it's a fascination with technology, a commitment to critical thinking, or a passion for social justice in education. ???? ?? Nurturing Rapport and Trust: Building a network is not just about professional connections; it's about establishing rapport and trust. Finding common ground becomes the foundation for a community that thrives on collaboration and shared growth. ???? #TeacherCommunity #CollaborativeEd #CommonGroundConnection

Be human. Also, don't overstep. Finding common ground takes time; it takes multiple meetings and even better doing a collaborative project or experience together. I've met some wonderful people participating in events that attract multiple different backgrounds, outside comfort zones, 'Where There Were Dragons' (I did Cambodia), the Nomadic Business School (not personally been to this one) but heard it is great, and engaging with the Futures community (who are doing incredible work).

According to my experience in teaching I think using the experiences of others will help a lot And it will cause growth And I agree with this method

My job is part of a large organization that "parents" a lot ot other schools. We connect through Workplace and I am able to see and share so many ideas from all of the teachers on the platform. I am also able to connect with teachers globally thus finding like-minded intentional people to give me ideas and advice and vice versa.

Consider sharing valuable resources, such as innovative teaching strategies or interesting articles, to contribute to the collective learning of the group. Showcasing your own work can be done by posting about successful classroom projects or educational initiatives you've spearheaded, inviting feedback and ideas for improvement. Additionally, attending webinars and listening to educational podcasts can provide you with fresh perspectives and up-to-date information in your field. By consistently engaging and contributing to these online communities, you not only gain new knowledge but also build a network of professional contacts who share your passion for teaching.

There are plenty of online communities to join. For example I am in two Facebook groups regarding my profession as special class teacher. I would recommend that one would join groups from his/hers home country. So the advice gotten from there is most likely in line with local law and curriculum.

This year, I had the great privilege to take part in a lecture series called Serala. Each week, an expert in a different field of expertise gave a presentation on some topic which might interest the public. These lectures were free to attend and held at a local bar, which built a great sense of community around what would otherwise be university-level courses. While I had a wonderful time giving my lecture on contemporary poetry, what was most exciting was getting the chance to sit in on the other talks and learn from top minds without paying a penny. If this sort of event is happening in Bucharest, Romania, imagine what sort of opportunities you can find to learn in your city, with a little curiosity and digging.

In addition to workshops and seminars, there are often opportunities to work on curriculum initiatives that connect you with educators in a range of content areas. Some of these opportunities even include a stipend. I've met many wonderful educators simply by engaging in the types of meaningful work I enjoy doing, but stretching myself outside of my building to do it.

Collaborating on projects is a fantastic way to connect with teachers from different subject areas online. Platforms like Google Workspace or Microsoft Teams facilitate shared document creation and real-time collaboration. Initiate cross-disciplinary projects that leverage the strengths of each subject. Utilize project management tools to coordinate tasks and timelines. Engage in online project-based learning communities where educators from diverse fields can share ideas and collaborate on joint initiatives. This approach not only fosters collaboration but also promotes a holistic and integrated approach to education.

Yes, attend, but I've had great rewards by stepping outside my comfort zone in the workshops I attended. Try to participate in events that involve a degree of teambuilding, a test, or a challenge ... where you can genuinely break bread and collaborate with others. This is how you'll make meaningful connections. As said above, 'Where There Were Dragons' was great for this, as well as our own Hakuba Forum.

Book "clubs" that read books on topics shared by diverse faculty and staff are a way to broaden your interaction with other teachers. It is a pretty universal characteristic of teachers, in my experience, that they are happy to be learning and so are happy to be reading. For Women's History Month a few years ago, we had a 2 session discussion of "I am Malala". In the midst of the campus going all in on an electronic learning management system, we read "Small Teaching" by James Lang, about traditional classroom teaching! The techniques proposed in the book were an interesting juxtaposition with what was going on in our lives and stimulated conversations that allowed us to learn from each other.

Such collaboration fosters a deeper understanding of each other's disciplines, enabling teachers to design more comprehensive and engaging lesson plans. By pooling resources and expertise, teachers can create innovative activities that challenge students to think critically and creatively, applying their knowledge in real-world contexts. For instance, a science teacher and a language arts teacher could team up to develop a project where students research environmental issues and then write persuasive essays or presentations advocating for sustainable practices. This not only integrates scientific knowledge with language skills but also enhances students' awareness of global issues.

Any element of research or study is significant in a larger structure or context, from where it obtains its senses and from where it is structured in its complexity at the moment of being understood. For the latter, interdisciplinary work and collaboration between different fields of knowledge are indispensable.

Coaching is a gift. Every teacher should seek coaching, irrelevant of their experience. In doing so, teachers will be provided with feedback regarding different aspects of their practice (including behaviour management, teaching and learning, intentional monitoring etc). From this, teachers should look at specific action steps in order to develop their practice. No one should ever be too proud to be coached. It is vital in continuing personal development. Teach Like a Champion - Doug Lemov is a go to read about this.

One of the great privileges of teaching at a school is having access to professional teachers. Don't be too proud to learn from them! In my experience, most teachers are flattered when you value their expertise or seek their guidance. Awaken your curiosity and come up with something you've always wondered about. It could be related to history, physics, business... it doesn't matter. At worst, you'll have small talk for the water cooler. Better yet, you might learn something. Either way, you're strengthening your network.

One thing I have found helpful is observing colleagues in a range of subjects and with a range of experience in education allowing me to grow and adapt as a teacher