Collaborative Partnerships: Special Education Teachers and General Education Teachers

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Collaborative Partnerships Special Education
Teachers and General Education Teachers

• Learning Team B
• Tameka Lucas McFarland, Denise Johnson, Cassandra
  Brower, and Jennifer Rigby
• University of Phoenix
• SPE-506 Special Education MethodsMABF04IHT3FAC
  Janice BrownSeptember 10, 2006

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What is Consultation?

• The process of seeking information about student
  progress
• Providing resources and references to aid in
  student achievement

3
What is Collaboration?

• Involves at least two people
• Parents, teachers, counselors, paraprofessionals,
  related service providers, medical professionals,
  and advocates

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Similarities in Collaboration and Consultation

• Both provide students with resources and aid in
  student success
• Involve students, parents, special and general
  educators, paraprofessionals, counselors, and
  other related service providers
• Share the responsibility and accountability of
  the students entire educational process

5
How are they Different?

• Consultations usually brief and may occur only
  once
• Collaborations extends over a long period of
  time

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Communication Skills for Collaboration

• Parity, shared responsibilities, accountability,
  and mutual goals can not be mandated. They are
  the resulting evidence of reciprocal
  relationships.
• (Mercer Mercer, 2005)

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Successful Collaborative Consultation Skills

• Create an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect
• Provide non-evaluative feedback when others are
  speaking
• Use jargon-free language
• Be aware of body language
• Give and receive feedback willingly without
  confrontation
• (Mercer Mercer, 2005)

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Advantages and Disadvantages to Collaboration
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Advantages to Collaboration

• Both can bring knowledge and skills to the team
  and share materials
• Special education teacher can provide information
  to the general educator about implementing
  modifications and accommodations in the classroom
• Both can adapt lesson plans and instruction to
  meet the needs of students with learning problems
• Build rapport with one another and better
  understand each others roles

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Disadvantages to Collaboration

• Difficulties understanding the importance of the
  group compared to the individual (Brownhill,
  Adams, Sindelar, Waldron, Vanhover, 2006)
• Knowing how to modify and accommodate course
  curriculum
• Role confusion
• Conflicting views on behavioral management
  (Brownhill, et. al, 2006)
• Opposing values and opinions of student needs
  (Brownhill, et. al, 2006)

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Strategies for Effective Collaboration

• Develop an overall plan of action
• Create a Team Charter which includes a plan for
  conflict resolution
• Signs of appreciation thank you cards, treats
  at the collaboration meetings

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Collaborative Achievement Involves
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References

• Brownhill, M.T., Adams, A., Sindelar, P.,
  Waldron,N., Vanhover, S. (2006).Learning from
  the collaboration The role of teacher
  qualities. Exceptional Children, 72, 169-185.
  Retrieved on September 7,2006 from
  http//web.ebscohost.com
• Mercer, C.D. Mercer, A.R. (2005). Teaching
  students with learning problems (7th ed.). Upper
  Saddle River, NJ Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall.