Staff meetings provide opportunities for teachers to interact and engage, which helps build strong relationships. Allow time at the beginning of the staff meeting for teachers to reconnect and catch up with each other. Include this time on the meeting agenda, so that it does not interfere with other important items. Particularly at the beginning of the year, be sure that all teachers have been introduced to each other.
Staff meetings should be collaborative and engage participants in discussion. When a single person lectures throughout the entire meeting, it can be easy for meeting attendants to lose focus. To encourage participation among teachers, distribute three slips of paper to each teacher and instruct the teacher to write her name on each one. Collect a slip from a teacher each time she participates. When a teacher has used all her slips, she must yield to participants that have not yet had an opportunity to speak. At the end of the meeting, draw a slip or two from a hat, and award prizes. This motivates all teachers to participate while discouraging conversation dominance.
Staff meetings, regardless of agenda, should have both a plan and a purpose. Avoid holding meetings that are not necessary. Distribute a tentative agenda a day or so in advance, and encourage teachers to come prepared by asking them to complete any required reading or research, or ask them to come with ideas, questions or concerns that they want to address at the meeting.
Provide elementary teachers an opportunity to provide feedback about staff meetings. Ask teachers to evaluate how productive, effective, helpful and engaging each meeting was. Invite them to submit criticism or to share ideas for future meetings. Distribute questionnaires for teachers to complete at the meeting's conclusion, or send an email survey to each teacher for him to complete when he has had time to digest the information presented.