1. Generationally Savvy: Bridging the Generation Gap
Maryland State Department of Education
College and Career Ready Conference 2015
2 mins
As participants enter, give them the Generation Preferences sheet to complete as they wait for the start of the session. Discuss after you review outcomes.

2. Outcomes
To assist participants to understand, support and work with colleagues, parents and students of all generations.
To understand the mind-sets of different generations and how each group see the world based on its experience
2 minutes to review

3. Surgeon General’s Warning
If this information is used to
pigeonhole people, it becomes
a dangerous weapon.
When we ask ourselves,
“How can I be more effective?”
it is a valuable tool.
2 mins.

4. I grew up with that…
Listen or view the items in the “I grew up with that” activity.
Identify the items you grew up with by standing up.
Be careful to only identify the items you grew up with as a child (under 15-years-old), and not just items you are familiar with from other life experiences.
4 minutes

5. Generation Sorting Activity
Please fill in this slide based on whether you are doing the “Talkin’ about my generation” activity or the matching activity. List the directions for whichever activity you are choosing to do.

6. Born before 1944 Traditionalists Loyal and hardworking
Respect authority
Appreciate formality
Prefer basic, sober communication
Have a great amount of knowledge and experience
Used to delaying rewards
Offer stability
2-3 mins. A Snap Shot of Four Generations
Stress that the dates of each generation may vary according to the researcher. Ask about % of this generation in their workplace with a show of fingers
Traditionalists

7. /63
Excel at teamwork
Love meetings and collective decision making
Invented the 70 hour work week
Desire to stand out in the crowd
What is crucial with this generation is the start date. Some researcher will start in 1943, 1944 or The men returning from the end of World War II started the baby boom. Since the war ended in Europe in 1944 the start date follows within a year or two.
Talk about this being the huge bulge in the population of the US. This generation has influenced every level of life with their size, spending power, & political power. This generation is now starting to retire and will again change the landscape in the US>

8. 1964-1980/82 Expect a lot, demand a lot
Appreciate constructive feedback
Work well alone
Dislike meetings
Want work/life balance, dislike long hours
Technologically savvy
4 minutes
Again, there is a number of ways to define a generation. If you add 18 years for a generation that is 1982, some say Ask about the % of this generation in the participants schools.
Generation X

9. 1980/82-2000 High/over Achievers Best educated generation Try hard
Eager to learn
Confident and assertive
Able to multi-task
Accustomed to praise and structure
4 minutes This generation is also known as the Millennial. They were the first generation to start work during the new millennium. Many of the new teachers are from this generation. They had been computer/technology savvy all of their life. They will be in the vanguard of bring new ways of learning to the classroom
Ask for %
The next generation is called Nexters/Gen Z and were born after 2000.
Millenials

10. Apply your generational knowledge…
In your assigned generational groups, review the scenarios on the handout provided.
Consider what you have learned about your generation and write down how you would approach the scenario as a school/district leader.
Discuss your generational perspectives on the scenarios as a whole group.
Assign your participants to generational groups. You should have 4 total groups. Give them the scenario handout. Give them time to read, discuss, and write their answers on the handout.
Discuss the outcome of the scenarios as a whole group.

11. Now What? What are your personal take-aways and commitments?
Table groups brain storm how this information can be used to improve PLCs and Communication.
Share out.
Summary:
With the upcoming demographic shift, the schools/teams/districts trained to bridge the gap between traditionalists/boomers/and Gen X and Gen Y, mindful of their different values, will be able to succeed, attract, retain, and engage the Gen X and Gen Y, this talented generation of teachers and leaders.