Standard 8 - Collaborative Relationships

Professional Learning Community (PLC): Spring 2023

Description: This document was a collaborated between the whole special education department during my student teaching. The department was tasked with coming up with and agreeing on some specific goals for that teachers might use or could be used in the future.

Connection to Illinois learning standard 8: The weekly meetings allowed the department to build upon past discussions and experiences that we have had with students. These professional learning community meetings provided us the opportunity to continue to hone and develop better strategies to support student learning and needs. I believe this artifact connects and aligns with "participates in collaborative decision-making and problem-solving with colleagues and other professionals to achieve success for all students" that is stated in performance indicator (8K). Moving forward in my educational career I feel that I can utilize much of what was discussed and implemented into a future classroom of my own. 

Self-evaluation: Almost every week, there was a different task each department is given to complete. However, this one stood out to me because it was the first time I was truly involved in the brainstorming of ideas. By putting our minds together, we were able to complete the few goals we needed to come up with. I believe that the school wanted to create, not a bank but a list of ideas to spark ideas for potential goals to set for students. This was a starting point to a data collection I believe they wanted to start moving into the following school year.

IEP Reflection

Description: During the time of my student teaching I sat through multiple IEPs and 1 re-evaluation. All of these sit -throughs were extremely helpful as I prepare to soon have my own IEP meeting for my students. During one of those IEPs, I was involved and read about the student's strengths that each of their teachers talked about from their classrooms.

Connection to Illinois learning standard 8: Sitting through the IEP meetings I was able to sit through what it will be like running my own IEP meetings. I learned how it is to be a team member and the roles of each team member. I observed how professionals interact with parents and other team members. All IEP meetings collaborated on building goals for the students for the next year. Being included in these IEP meetings is a great way for me "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 " as it is stated in the performance indicator (8S).

Self-evaluation: After sitting in all these IEP meetings, I learned that all parents are completely different. Some parents may not show up, which means we either have to call them or run the meeting without them. Some parents show up to the meeting with the copy of the IEP, highlighted and ready to ask questions. While others are more willing to go with what is being suggested. I believe that the more prepared and detailed an IEP is before annual meetings the smoother the delivery and outcome of the collaboration is between all stake holders.