Standard 8: Collaborative Relationships

Standard 8 - Collaborative Relationships – 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.

Rationale:

In Spring of 2020, I was placed for Student Teaching. I was placed in a 5th grade ELA class with my co-teacher Ms. Vittorio. We collaborated throughout the 11 weeks I student taught and created an amazing relationship. I also collaborated with the 5th grade ELA team for assessments and unit plans as well as the Curriculum Director every Tuesday during our plan. Building a relationship with your team is crucial when working together. I was so lucky to have an amazing team to work with.

Standard Connection:

The below standards that I feel best represented my artifacts:

8A) understands schools as organizations within the larger community context;

8B) understands the collaborative process and the skills necessary to initiate and carry out that process;

8C) collaborates with others in the use of data to design and implement effective school interventions that benefit all students;

8D) understands the benefits, barriers, and techniques involved in parent and family collaborations;

8E) understands school- and work-based learning environments and the need for collaboration with all organizations (e.g., businesses, community agencies, nonprofit organizations) to enhance student learning;

8F) understands the importance of participating on collaborative and problem-solving teams to create effective academic and behavioral interventions for all students;

8G) understands the various models of co-teaching and the procedures for implementing them across the curriculum;

8H) understands concerns of families of students with disabilities and knows appropriate strategies to collaborate with students and their families in addressing these concerns;

8I) understands the roles and the importance of including students with disabilities, as appropriate, and all team members in planning individualized education programs (i.e, IEP, IFSP, Section 504 plan) for students with disabilities.

8J) works with all 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;

8K) participates in collaborative decision-making and problem-solving with colleagues and other professionals to achieve success for all students;

8L) initiates collaboration with others to create opportunities that enhance student learning;

8M) uses digital tools and resources to promote collaborative interactions;

8N) uses effective co-planning and co-teaching techniques to deliver instruction to each student;

8O) collaborates with school personnel in the implementation of appropriate assessment and instruction for designated students;

8P) develops professional relationships with parents and guardians that result in fair and equitable treatment of each student to support growth and learning;

8Q) establishes respectful and productive relationships with parents or guardians and seeks to develop cooperative partnerships to promote student learning and well-being;

8R) uses conflict resolution skills to enhance the effectiveness of collaboration and teamwork;

8S) participates in the design and implementation of individualized instruction for students with special needs (i.e., IEPs, IFSP, transition plans, Section 504 plans), ELLs, and students who are gifted;

8T) identifies and utilizes community resources to enhance student learning and to provide opportunities for students to explore career opportunities.

Self-Evaluation:

I was included in Parent Teacher Conferences in the spring and it was such a great learning experience. My co-teacher let me talk with parents and share feedback with them. I was very involved with one student in particular keeping that student on track and responsible. When I met that student's father, the father hugged me and thanked me for all that I have done to help his child. It was my pleasure to help make a difference in a student's educational journey.

Another way we collaborated as a team was for Heart Week on February 14th. The whole school had a Heart assembly and after we had a Heart Hero Dance-a-thon. It was so fun to dance and sing with students for a great cause! My co-teacher is involved with starting it and I loved helping her and the team organize! Glen Oaks raised over $2000 for the #kidsheartchallenge!!