The Importance of Collaboration

Why is collaboration so important?

              Collaboration is essential in all aspects of education. As a teacher, I will collaborate with students, parents, administrators, and other teachers very often in order to be the most effective teacher I can be. Collaboration is important so that each child is challenged to their full potential but also helped in areas where they need extra assistance. As a teacher, I need to be aware of how each of my students struggle so that I can accommodate them to the best of my ability. Children learn in different ways so I will have to be an excellent observer so that I know how to differentiate between levels of learning and the types of teaching strategies to use. Sometimes grouping students into their levels of knowledge and learning might help me differentiate instruction so that each student is more successful in the learning process. It’s also important to be aware of how students struggle in elementary school in order to discover disabilities in a timely manner.

              Teachers today are in so many groups that meet weekly or biweekly that they’re nearly professional collaborators. There are PLC (Professional Learning Community) meetings, RTI (Response to Intervention) teams, Positive Behavior Support Teams, grade-level planning meetings, and many other teams teachers are members of. Each of these teams collaborates every time they meet. In The Fundamentals of Collaboration, Friend and Cook explain that individuals who collaborate, not only share resources and accountability for outcomes, but they also trust one another and a powerful sense of community often evolves (2010). It’s helpful to get advice from previous teachers about special education students. Co-teaching is another example of collaboration in the classroom which increases success of student learning by splitting a class up into groups to be taught a different concept/subject or the same concept simply in a different way. There must be communication across the content areas in order to relate what students are learning in physical education and art to what they’re learning in science and reading. This sort of collaboration helps students to really understand concepts and see them in concrete examples in many aspects of the world they live in. It also creates a sense of community, trust, and respect among the teachers and other professionals working together.

                Parent-teacher collaboration is possibly the most important in elementary education. Cook’s research on parent-teacher collaboration shows that “parental involvement in children’s education….has been associated with improved student outcomes” (2012). As a teacher, it’s critical that I take into account how I can keep parents informed, encouraging, and supportive of their students in order to see the greatest success in children. Often times, a student models an adult he or she respects most; in some cases, this is a parent. Therefore, it is essential that parents are up-to-date on any struggles a student has, the options on how to best help a student with disabilities, and of course, should know all about what the student is excelling in. Parents and teachers together engage in the success of students through things like developing an IEP (Individualized education program) for students with disabilities and parent-teacher conferences. This collaboration allows for communication between parent, child, and teacher while helping to create a trusting relationship where they can all work together towards a common goal.

                Collaboration is used in various ways in the education system. It often strengthens relationships, builds trust and resources, and allows people to help one another work toward a shared goal. Collaboration is constantly in use in the classroom, whether between students, teachers, professionals, specialists, or combinations of the four. Regardless of the circumstances, collaboration is a vital tool in education and being an effective teacher.

References

Cook, B. (2012). Facilitating the effective implementation of evidence-based practices through teacher-parent collaboration. Teaching Exceptional Children, 44(3), 22-30. Retrieved from https://libproxy.highpoint.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=trh&AN=69989327&site=ehost-live

Friend, M., & Cook, L. (2010). Interactions:  Collaboration skills for school professionals. Boston, MA: Pearson Learning Solutions.