We have used the following PLANNING SYSTEM for Rotation for three years and it seems to work -
--Next month I will meet with our design team and select the workshops for next year.
--Then one of the team members will make up nine newprint sheets for each unit. The sheets go up on the wall in the Education Wing in May. This sheet lists the four workshops we have each month and a brief description about the workshop and a place for a volunteer to sign up.
By making the lists so visible, many teachers want to GET THEIR NAME FILLED IN before all the slots are taken, ...and get into their favorite workshops on THEIR schedule. (It also helps that they see everyone else doing their fair share of helping out.)
This way many workshops have leaders by the end of June!
Some slots need persuasion....
If we have a workshop that I think is perfect for someone to teach I will "gently" ask them. Usually they say 'yes.' Usually we have all the workshops filled by Christmas. The teachers know when the holidays are coming up - it is mentiond on each sign up sheet. We usually don't have a problem with "sudden" vacations or problems- the teachers are very good about getting their own substitutes - all I ask is that they tell me what is going on. This system seems to work for us.
