The competent teacher builds and maintains collaborative relationships to foster cognitive, linguistic, physical, and social and emotional development. This teacher works as a team member with professional colleagues, students, parents or guardians, and community members.
During the fall of 2017, I had the opportunity to observe and interview a school Speech and Language Pathologist. I observed her working one on one with a Kindergarten student who uses an iPad to communicate. After the observation, I was able to ask her questions about her work and her collaboration with teachers.
In the course of our discussion, we talked about how she and the classroom teachers collaborate in order to be on the same page with the students. She asks teachers to send her a vocabulary list for the upcoming week so that she can input the words into her students devices in order to allow them to fully participate. Through the discussion and understanding of her of her communication with teachers, I show that I "understand the collaborative process and the skills necessary to initiate and carry out that process" (IPTS 8B).
By collaborating with teachers, this school speech and language pathologist is better able to serve her students by preparing them to participate in class discussions. Her and the classroom teachers decided that it would be the most beneficial for students if they worked on practical skills during their speech time. She is also able to practice their language and work in a natural yet purposeful way that will translate to what the student is doing in their own classroom. Through observing and discussing this with her, I show that I "understand the importance of participating on collaborative and problem-solving teams to create effective academic and behavioral interventions for all students" (IPTS 8F).
During this observation and interview, I was able to get a real life view of the collaboration process between school service providers and classroom teachers. I was able to ask practical questions and view the efforts of their work through the observation of a session with a student where collaboration has been fundamental in his success in the classroom.
I wrote this mock letter to parents as a way to introduce using a growth mindset in the classroom and asking for their cooperation in using it at home. I detail the mindset that will be implemented in the classroom and suggest and explain three strategies that they could use at home with their student. I end on a positive note, relaying how excited I am to teach their student, how I hope we can learn together this year and how I believe these strategies will challenge their students in a productive and engaging manner.
By sending this letter, I show that I value the collaboration between teachers and parents and the learning that students can achieve while at home. I also show that I view parents as partners in the teaching journey and that I would like to work together to support their students learning. Through doing so, I show that I "initiate collaboration with others to create opportunities that enhance student learning" (IPTS 8L) and that I "establish respectful and productive relationships with parents or guardians and seeks to develop cooperative partnerships to promote student learning and well-being" (IPTS 8Q).
In order to begin a positive working relationship together, I understand that I must take the first step to reach out and establish a mutual goal focused on their students education. Through creating that relationship we are able to ensure that students are receiving consistency both at school and at home. As the classroom teacher, I am also able to receive support and follow through from the parents as well as insight into the students life that only the parent would have. Through this I show that I "understand the benefits, barriers, and techniques involved in parent and family collaborations" (IPTS 8D).
By writing this letter I was able to practice my communication skills with parents and prepare for the initial correspondence at the beginning of the year, relaying the class mindsets and involving parents in the process. I also learned the importance of informing parents about classroom activities and working collaboratively with parents for the benefit of the student.