Jigsaw Learning Blogs

Are You Maximizing the Power and Impact of Your Pre-Meeting Organizer?

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 21:26:00 +0000

Learn how to use a Collaborative Team Meeting (CTM) pre-meeting organizer to support teacher reflection, identify key issues, use student data, and facilitate focused, solutions-oriented collaboration.

Can Intentional CTM Groupings Elevate Professional Conversations in Your Building?

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 19:18:00 +0000

Discover how intentionally mixing collaborative team meeting (CTM) groups strengthens school-wide collaboration, breaks down departmental silos, and shares effective strategies to support every student.

How Can You Ensure Your Pre-Meeting Organizers Are Completed and Utilized Effectively?

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 18:50:00 +0000

Strengthen Collaborative Team Meetings with five practical strategies for using a simple pre-meeting organizer to build staff preparation, focus conversations, and support solutions for students.

Are Your School Goals Really SMART? - Ep 111

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 22:05:00 +0000

Kurtis and Lorna break down what is a SMART goal and how their development can have a tremendous impact of team collaborative efforts when building upon and improving Tier 1 practices within your school's MTSS efforts.

Why Your Teachers Are Resisting Collaboration (And How to Fix It) with Becca Silver - Ep 110

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 21:54:00 +0000

Kurtis and Lorna sit down with Becca Silver, founder of The Whole Educator and author of 'The Resistance Solution.' Becca explains why traditional collaboration protocols fail when we don't understand the underlying fears, beliefs, and unmet needs of our staff.

How Collaborative Response Drives School Improvement - Ep 119

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 21:18:00 +0000

Kurtis and Lorna share how Collaborative Response is more than just a way to organize meetings - it is a multi-tiered system that can really help move your school improvement efforts forward with intentionality and purpose! They share what that looks like as well as some key considerations for leaders when making that connection explicit for their team.

Why Are Celebrations Essential for Strong Collaborative Team Meetings?

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 18:35:00 +0000

Learn how intentional celebrations can shift Collaborative Team Meetings from problem-focused conversations to reflective practice that builds collective efficacy and strengthens support for every student.

Beyond the Data Calendar: Connecting Measures, Timing & Action - Ep 109

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 23:40:00 +0000

Kurtis and Lorna discuss the value of developing a strategic and aligned data calendar for key measures established for a school.

What to Do When Collaborative Teams Aren't Working with Chrissy Beltran - Ep 108

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 23:25:00 +0000

Kurtis sits down with returning guest Chrissy Beltran to explore dysfunctional team dynamics and practical strategies for building genuine collaboration, alignment, knowledge building, and collective efficacy among educators.

The Problem That Inspired WeCollab - The History - Ep 118

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 23:16:00 +0000

Kurtis and Lorna discuss the WeCollab software, how it came to be and how it can be a powerful support system for a school and division's Collaborative Response efforts.

Your First Collaborative Team Meeting Sets the Tone! - Ep 117

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 17:56:00 +0000

Kurtis and Lorna break down the collaborative team meeting (CTM) and discuss how it can radically change MTSS or RTI efforts in any school to ensure a purposeful and aligned Collaborative Response. In addition to clarifying its purpose and structure, they share some suggestions to consider when getting started

Are you Screening Students—or Just Collecting Data? - Ep 107

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 17:36:00 +0000

Kurtis and Lorna discuss what is a universal screen, how to get started with screeners in your school and some considerations for leaders to maximize the use of screeners.

Why Time Management Won't Save Your School Culture (And What Will) with Dr. Frederick Buskey - Ep 106

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 17:21:00 +0000

Kurtis and Lorna sit down with author, speaker, and leadership coach Dr. Frederick Buskey to unpack how to transform your school from a culture of firefighting to a culture of collaboration.

The 3 Types of Data Every School Needs - Ep 105

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 17:12:00 +0000

Kurtis and Lorna discuss the difference between universal screens, diagnostic assessments and progress monitoring and why, in time, all three are critical for schools when designing their systems of support that are truly data-informed.

How Are You Providing Time for Reflection in the Collaborative Team Meeting?

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 21:20:00 +0000

Learn how intentional processing and reflection before, during, and after Collaborative Team Meetings strengthens instructional practice, builds collective expertise, and creates sustainable habits focused on student learning.

15 High-Impact Practices for Instructional Leaders with Glenn Forbes - Ep 104

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 18:27:00 +0000

Discover how instructional leadership can move school leaders beyond daily operations and into evidence-based practices that drive classroom improvement, strengthen collaboration, and improve student outcomes.

What Happens When You Mix Up Your Collaborative Teams? - Ep 116

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 18:21:00 +0000

Kurtis and Lorna share why creating diversity in the collaborative team meeting can help add another layer of collaboration in your school, in addition to teacher teams that already exist.

A Better School Year Starts With Better Planning - Ep 103

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 19:55:00 +0000

Kurtis and Lorna suggest various considerations leaders should be thinking about prior to the start of a new school year. Coming into the year with a clear plan can ensure alignment, purpose and focus.

How Schools Build Dedicated Time and Voice into Collaborative Response with St. Theresa - Ep 115

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 19:45:00 +0000

Discover how school leaders can build collaboration into the schedule, amplify staff voice, and use student data to drive focused action and support.

Your Curriculum Could Be Your Best Collaboration Tool with Lily Jones - Ep 102

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 19:27:00 +0000

Explore how collaborative curriculum development can transform school culture by empowering teachers as active creators, fostering shared ownership, and strengthening collaboration across school teams.