8. Collaborative Relationships

Artifact 1: School/Class Culture Report from Practicum Placement, Fall 2017

This document is an analysis of my part-time student teaching placement’s school culture created for my teaching methods course during the fall semester of 2017. During the course of the semester, I split my weekly part-time teaching hours between two schools within District 101 in Western Springs, Il – McClure Jr. High and Laidlaw Elementary. The analysis contains a comprehensive look into the following elements of the two schools: demographics and diversity, state test results, MTSS/RtI plans, student makeup of classes, school environment, procedures and routines, motivation factors, management interventions, and integration of technology.

By creating this document during the initial phases of my part-time student teaching placement, I was able to better understand the middle and elementary schools as organizations within the larger community context (IPTS 8A). I learned that it is imperative to collaborate with others in the use of data to design and implement effective school interventions that benefit all students (IPTS 8C). In working with my cooperating teachers to create this document, I discovered the importance of participating on collaborative and problem-solving teams to create effective academic and behavioral interventions for all students (IPTS 8F).

In my time at the two schools, I covered a lot of ground. I mainly instructed 4th, 5th, and 6th graders, however I occasionally spent extra time with the older bands when help was needed. By digging into the school culture, I was able to break down the elements of both of the schools so as to paint a picture of the school philosophy from a broader perspective. It was necessary to branch out from the band and orchestra rooms to speak with administrators and other faculty to inform this report and ultimately find out what drives the school’s policies, structure, and philosophy.

Artifact 2: Interview of Cooperating Teacher

This artifact is a transcription of an interview I conducted for my Literacy Across the Disciplines course during the fall semester of 2017. In this write-up, you will find my interview with Dawn Fiebrandt, band director at Western Springs District 101. Dawn was my cooperating teacher during my part-time student teaching internship during this semester. I conducted this and two other interviews as assignments for my literacy-based class in order to take a closer look at reading habits in general. “How do you read?” is the essential question examined here.

This interview not only gave me insight into the reading patterns of my cooperating teacher. It enabled me to better understands school- and work-based learning environments and the need for collaboration to enhance student learning (IPTS 8E). The organizing of the interview and the topics covered allowed me to work with school personnel (e.g., support staff, teachers, paraprofessionals) to develop learning climates for the school that encourage unity, support a sense of shared purpose, show trust in one another, and value individuals (IPTS 8J). Finally, the end result of the interview was that it initiated collaboration with my cooperating teacher that lead to the creation of opportunities that enhance overall student learning (IPTS 8L).

Although the primary aim of my questions was to bring to the surface literacy and literacy-related patterns inherent to the position of jr. high/elementary band teachers, the conversation also allowed us to find common ground, discover like-interests, and realize similarities in the way that we approach reading for the purpose of teaching music effectively. I was able to learn a lot about the profession of music teaching as well as the ways in which a practitioner remains up-to-date on research in the profession.