8. Collaborative Relationships 

Introduction Letter

When I started student teaching in January of 2024, I sent a letter home to introduce myself to student’s families. I did this to help families feel connected with me and understand my role as a student teaching. This consideration is described in knowledge indicator 8A “understands schools as organizations within the larger community context”.(IL knowledge indicator 8A).In my case I understood that parents wanted and needed to be included in my being in their child’s class. This letter was a hello, a heads up and a way to clarify my role as student teacher.

I made this letter in Canva to look professional and well thought out. Using tools to help add communication in the community follows performance indicator 8M “uses digital tools and resources to promote collaborative interactions” (IL performance indicator 8M). As a teacher it is important to take advantage of technology to collaborate and communicate with others, including peers, students and parents. This is something I plan to do daily as a teacher with Canva, google suite and more.

Project Based Unit (Link) 

In my elementary literacy course my friend Halie and I created a Project Based Unit about diverse books. This project included many lessons and texts to go with them. Together Halie and determined the order of activities, the standards needed and the final project which was a poster. This follows the knowledge indicator 8G “understands the various models of co-teaching and the procedures for implementing them across the curriculum” (IL knowledge indicator 8G). Working with my partner we decide how we would teach each lesson and who would do what part.

  Co-teaching in the real world is like that as well. Teachers working together to plan and then deciding how to go from there. That is part of permanence indicator 8N “8N) uses effective co-planning and co-teaching techniques to deliver instruction to each student” (IL performance indicator 8N).  In this unit plan my partner and I worked to plan how we would instruct students and what methods to use. These are skills I hope to use as a teacher and during co-teaching with a special education teacher.