Choosing Collaboration Over Competition
In early childhood education, the best teaching teams know something important: we’re stronger when we work together. It’s not about being the “best” teacher in the room—it’s about making sure every child gets the best version of all of us. That’s what collaboration is all about.
Ditching the Competition
Let’s be honest—when things get competitive, people tend to shut down. Ideas don’t get shared, people hold back, and teaching becomes way more stressful than it needs to be. But when educators support each other, share what’s working, and celebrate wins as a group? That’s where the magic happens.
In collaborative teams:
No one feels like they have to “go it alone.”
Great ideas get passed around like favorite snacks.
The whole team is focused on what’s best for the kids—not just their own classroom.
What Collaboration Actually Looks Like
Here’s what it looks like when teams are working together instead of trying to outshine each other:
Planning together: Teams take time to share ideas, work through challenges, and build on each other’s strengths.
Popping into each other’s rooms: It’s normal to visit, help out, or just get inspired by what a teammate is doing.
Celebrating team wins: When something goes well, it’s everyone’s success—not just one person’s moment.
Working across age groups: Teachers from different classrooms talk, plan, and solve problems together so transitions are smoother for kids.
How Leaders Can Support Collaboration
It starts from the top. Leaders can help build a collaborative vibe by:
Setting shared goals: Try something like, “Let’s test out a few new ways to keep kids engaged during clean-up time and talk about what worked.”
Making space to reflect: Instead of just looking at checklists or data, ask, “What did we learn from this week?”
Celebrating the team: Shout out group efforts during staff meetings, or write a little note highlighting something awesome the team pulled off.
If you’re ready to move your team from competition to collaboration but aren’t sure where to start, I’d love to support you. Let’s work together to build stronger, more connected teams that elevate everyone involved—especially the children. Reach out to me at deidre.harris@teamagreements.com and let’s start the conversation.