As an educator, I am learning that collaboration is vital to the student's learning. One of the best resources a teacher is the ability to collaborate with other teachers for recommendations, ideas and feedback. Having other teachers look over your work or bounce ideas off from are important to gain a stronger understanding of what it is you're trying to accomplish, focus in on what the idea is and most importantly, embody the idea that you truly are "as strong as your team".

Collaboration is important for teachers as much as it is for students.

Students should be able to encounter different perspectives of classmates and be able to build together from their own starting points to find a common ground.

Collaboration is a life-long skill that my class will be sure to develop, acquire and use on a day to day basis. Some of my best learning was when I would have a lesson, then turn around and work with a partner to figure that lesson out further, together.

When students learn to collaborate, they become stronger thinkers - they are forced to articulate their ideas, establish what is most important to them, learn to negotiate, learn to listen and build along side of someone else.

These are all qualities that my students will gain in my classrooms.