Start your day with a laugh and watch this brief clip from a classic sitcom, TAXI.

Honestly, it is one of the funniest things that I have watched in a long time.

So, what does a yellow light mean?

Simple: Slow Down!

It was nice to get the yellow light over the winter break and slow down, but now we are back at school.  Let’s pick up the pace again and talk about something that can happen quickly, efficiently, and informally: MEETINGS!

I’ve been reflecting on the last few months of school and realize that the best meetings I’ve had with teachers regarding curriculum have started on the fly.  Quick.  Blammo.  Zap and they are done.  No specific meeting location or agenda or meeting norms.  No yellow light.

For example, I am driving to school and an idea (Lightbulb!) regarding an upcoming project pops into my head. That morning, I bump into the classroom teacher (green light!) while we are both on our way to get some water.  In three minutes we have an additional research activity or literature extension in the works for an upcoming lesson.  Hooray!

Meetings like this happen all the time.  I’m sure you know exactly what I am talking about.  We meet with teachers in the hall, at recess duty, or on our way to the parking lot at the end of the day.  We meet for a minute before a regularly scheduled faculty meeting.  We share a quick text or email exchange.  Some of my best collaborations have come out of a brief and informal lunchtime conversation.

Most often these spontaneous meetings are followed by a few emails and an actual in-person, planned meeting.  Things start quick and then settle in s-l-o-w-l-y as we take our time to work out all the fuzzy bits together.

For a refresher on collaboration models travel back in time to a 2013 Independent Ideas post, What Type of Labrador Are You?

How do your best collaborations start?