The Special Educator's Guide to Collaboration; Improving Relationships With Co-Teachers, Teams, and Families

by Sharon F. Cramer

• ISBN13: 9781412914918
• ISBN10: 1412914914
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-04-05
• Publisher: Corwin Pr

Summary

"The valuable information and numerous strategies and resources make this a must have book for all teachers striving for effective collaborative relationships." -Spencer J. Salend, Professor SUNY, The College at New Paltz At last, a practical game plan for productive and personally rewarding collaborative relationships! General and special education teachers working side by side on a daily basis must move beyond basic communication to improve collaborative relationships inside and outside the classroom. Author Sharon F. Cramer delves into the art of the collaborative process through a series of practical exercises coupled with relevant research, and outlines a plan to make collaboration a life-long part of teaching. Preservice teachers, inservice teachers, and staff developers alike can use the activities in the book as is or adapt them to fit their own unique circumstances. Whether used for personal improvement or by a group for professional development purposes, these invaluable set of relationship-building tools will empower teachers and give them the motivation, understanding, and skills to transform unsatisfactory co-teaching relationships into productive, truly collaborative relationships. Special features include: Case stories and data from among 1,000 collaboration projects supervised by the author Up-to-date research, including an overview of current literature on collaboration "Idea try-outs"-step-by-step reflection activities for promoting independent, innovative thinking "Project try-outs"-structured research and interview activities that provide readers with focused ways to test their collaboration skills When teachers become curious, motivated learners, not only will they discover the many benefits of collaborative relationships with their peers, but they will also enrich the learning environment for their students!

Table of Contents

Preface to the Second Edition	xi
Acknowledgments	xv
About the Author	xvii
Why Can't We Just Be Friends?	1	(24)
Becoming Proactive: Improving the School Climate Through Collaboration	1	(6)
Overview of the Collaboration Project	7	(4)
Terminology	7	(1)
Typical Questions	8	(2)
Idea Try-Out 1.1. At Work: Yes and No	10	(1)
Principals of Collaboration	11	(5)
The goal of collaboration is to create a climate of heightened professionalism between professionals, with an ``indirect impact on student outcomes'' such that the students who are served by the professionals can achieve their highest potential	11	(1)
Collaboration ``should provide a vehicle to facilitate independent problem solving on the part of participants.''	12	(1)
Collaboration is ``an interactive process that enables teams of people with diverse expertise to generate creative solutions to . . . problems. The outcome . . . produces solutions that are different from those that any individual team member would produce independently.''	13	(1)
In the collaboration effort, ``vested interests are sublimated to the broader purposes of the . . . strategic agenda.''	13	(1)
Project Try-Out 1.2. Collaboration Principles	14	(1)
Professional Working Relationships: An Analogy	15	(1)
Distinguishing Between Collaboration, Consultation, and Teaming	16	(6)
Conclusion	22	(3)
Background: Making the Case for Collaboration	25	(20)
Legislative Mileposts	26	(8)
Civil Rights for Individuals With Disabilities	28	(1)
Education for Individuals With Disabilities	29	(2)
Mandate Extended to Younger Children: P.L. 99--457	31	(1)
P.L. 101--476, Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and IDEA 2004 (P.L. 108--446)	32	(2)
Summary of Legislative Mileposts	34	(1)
Collaboration: Relevant Trends and Events	34	(9)
A Nation at Risk	34	(1)
Regular Education Initiative	35	(2)
Idea Try-Out 2.1. Ripple Effect: REI in 1991	37	(2)
Goals 2000	39	(1)
Project Try-Out 2.2. Goals 2000 and You	40	(1)
International Standards for the Preparation and Certification of Special Education Teachers	41	(2)
Project Try-Out 2.3. Planning Ahead for Collaboration	43	(1)
Conclusion	43	(2)
Ingredients for Successful Collaboration: Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Characteristics	45	(36)
Intrapersonal Foundation for Collaboration	46	(9)
Attitudes Make a Difference	47	(1)
Idea Try-Out 3.1. This Week in Review	48	(3)
Project Try-Out 3.2. Test Your Attitude	51	(1)
Activities of a Reflective Practitioner	52	(2)
Idea Try-Out 3.3. Idea Transplant	54	(1)
Interpersonal Foundation for Collaboration	55	(8)
Communication and Its Relationship to Effective Classroom Performance	58	(2)
Verbal Communication Strategies	60	(2)
Nonverbal Communication Strategies	62	(1)
Problem Solving: Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Skills	63	(12)
Idea Try-Out 3.4. Helping Naturally	65	(2)
Problem Identification	67	(1)
Project Try-Out 3.5. Problem Solving for Friday Night	68	(1)
Project Development	69	(2)
Idea Try-Out 3.6. Together and Apart	71	(1)
Implementation	71	(2)
Project Try-Out 3.7. Doing and Debriefing	73	(1)
Feedback/Evaluation	74	(1)
Bringing It All Together	75	(6)
Analysis of a Unique Moment	76	(1)
Analysis of a Productive Pattern	77	(1)
Analysis of a Counterproductive Pattern	78	(3)
Evaluating Your Situation Honestly: Appraising Your School as a Context for Collaboration	81	(24)
Assessing Resources Available to Collaborators	81	(6)
Factors Impeding Collaboration: Pragmatic and Conceptual	82	(5)
Factors Promoting Collaboration	87	(11)
Factor 1: Collaboration Topics	87	(2)
Project Try-Out 4.1. Your Way, My Way, or Our Way?	89	(1)
Factor 2: Expectations for Team Building	90	(3)
Idea Try-Out 4.2. Experiences, Questions, Hopes	93	(1)
Factor 3: Specific Classroom Environment Instruments	93	(1)
Factor 4: Time	94	(1)
Project Try-Out 4.3. Tick, Tock	95	(1)
Factor 5: Technology	96	(2)
Applications to Use in Your School Setting	98	(3)
Use the Lunchroom	99	(1)
Review Written Samples	99	(1)
Compare Work Among Colleagues	100	(1)
Communitywide Collaboration Experiments	101	(4)
Developing an Effective Collaboration Strategy: Half Empty or Half Full?	105	(30)
Collaboration Component Checklists	105	(4)
Compatibility Checklist	109	(13)
Compatibility Item 1: Using Clarifying Questions	109	(2)
Compatibility Item 2: Using a Structured Self-Assessment Process	111	(1)
Project Try-Out 5.1. Mirror, Mirror	112	(1)
Compatibility Item 3: Clarifying Expectations for Meeting Styles	113	(3)
Idea Try-Out 5.2. New Year's Resolutions	116	(1)
Compatibility Item 4: Developing Workable Role Prescriptions	117	(2)
Idea Try-Out 5.3. Mind Reader	119	(3)
Success Checklist	122	(12)
Success Item 1: Changing Your Actions	122	(1)
Idea Try-Out 5.4. Two Sides to Every Coin	123	(4)
Project Try-Out 5.5. Self-Management Strategy	127	(2)
Success Item 2: Changing Your Attitude	129	(2)
Success Item 3: Re-Evaluating Success	131	(3)
Conclusion	134	(1)
Designing a Plan for Change Starting With You	135	(22)
Guidelines for the Collaboration Project	135	(4)
Designing a Self-Referential Plan for Collaboration	139	(2)
Time Frame for Collaboration Project	139	(1)
Identification of Pragmatic Goals	139	(1)
Idea Try-Out 6.1. Importing the Best	140	(1)
Idea Try-Out 6.2. Exporting the Worst	140	(1)
Overview of Pragmatic Goals	141	(2)
Communication-Related Projects	141	(1)
Assertiveness-Related Projects	141	(1)
Clashing Values Projects	142	(1)
Different Work Styles Projects	142	(1)
``Clean Slate'' Projects	142	(1)
``Getting to Know You'' Projects	142	(1)
Development of Pragmatic Goals and Objectives	143	(10)
Communication-Related Goals and Objectives	143	(2)
Assertiveness-Related Goals and Objectives	145	(1)
Goals and Objectives Related to Clashing Values	146	(2)
Different Work Styles Goals and Objectives	148	(2)
``Clean Slate'' Goals and Objectives	150	(2)
``Getting to Know You'' Goals and Objectives	152	(1)
Incorporating Expertise: Marshaling Resources	153	(4)
Creating a Collaboration Resource Network	154	(1)
Idea Try-Out 6.3. Human Scavenger Hunt	154	(1)
Identifying Reference Points for Success	155	(2)
What Now? What Works and What Doesn't When Collaborating	157	(28)
Effective Communication Strategies: Something for Everyone	158	(20)
Listening to Others: Why	159	(2)
Idea Try-Out 7.1. The Listeners	161	(1)
Listening to Others: How	162	(3)
Project Try-Out 7.2. My Favorite Show	165	(1)
Tips for Effective Communication: Making Statements	166	(1)
Idea Try-Out 7.3. Yours, Mine, or Ours?	167	(2)
Project Try-Out 7.4. Where and How	169	(5)
Using Questions	174	(3)
Project Try-Out 7.5. Questioning Questions	177	(1)
Accomplishing Pragmatic Goals and Associated Evaluation Methods	178	(3)
Expand the Range of Discussion	179	(1)
Change the Tone of Your Interactions	179	(1)
Change the Way You Work	180	(1)
Making Use of Your Collaboration Resource Network	181	(1)
Conclusion	182	(3)
Evaluating the Success of Your Plan: How Can You Tell?	185	(26)
Objective Measures of Change	187	(14)
Modified Communication Strategies and Initiation Patterns	188	(1)
Keeping Track	189	(2)
Idea Try-Out 8.1. M&Ms	191	(2)
Modified Ratio of Positive to Negative Efforts	193	(2)
Professional Information Sharing	195	(2)
Project Try-Out 8.2. Professional Information Sharing	197	(4)
Subjective Measures of Change	201	(7)
Content Analysis and Journal Entries	202	(3)
Adjective Checklists: Taking Your ``Emotional Temperature''	205	(2)
Looking to the Future	207	(1)
Idea Try-Out 8.3. Taking Reflection to the Next Level	207	(1)
Conclusion	208	(3)
Self-Encouragement: Keeping Yourself Going	211	(20)
Self-Talk: The Cornerstone for Self-Encouragement or Self-Discouragement	212	(5)
Idea Try-Out 9.1. Self-Talk Habits	215	(1)
Project Try-Out 9.2. Self-Talk in Action	216	(1)
Looking for the Positives: Positive Reinforcement for Yourself	217	(1)
Sample Projects Incorporating Reinforcement	217	(6)
Setting Up a Reinforcement Program	219	(1)
Project Try-Out 9.3. This One's for You!	220	(2)
Negative Reinforcement	222	(1)
Idea Try-Out 9.4. Stop It!	223	(1)
Teaching Yourself to Look: Observing Yourself	223	(6)
Efficacy as a Goal	224	(1)
Teacher Efficacy as a Tool for Self-Reflection	225	(1)
Project Try-Out 9.5. Yes and No	226	(1)
Systematically Addressing Deficit Areas	227	(2)
Conclusion	229	(2)
Summing Up the Outcomes: What Have You Accomplished?	231	(24)
Assessing Success: How Did Your Plan Work Out?	234	(9)
Organizing and Reviewing Data: Pre-Planned Data Analysis	235	(7)
Organizing and Reviewing Data: Post Hoc Analysis	242	(1)
Post-Project Interactions: Creating a Natural Transition to Your Next Steps Project	243	(1)
Communication Habits	243	(3)
What Contexts Can You Select for Communication With Your Target Person That Will Have the Best Chances of Continuing/Further Improving Your Communication Habits?	244	(1)
Next Steps Idea Try-Out 10.1. Mapping It Out	244	(1)
How Can You Demonstrate Professional Respect When You Work Together on Common Goals?	245	(1)
Next Steps Idea Try-Out 10.2. Sugar, Spice, Puppy Dog Tails	246	(1)
Problem-Solving Habits	246	(4)
How Can You Make Sure Your Accountability to the Problem-Solving Process Does Not Depend on the Behavior of Your Target Person?	249	(1)
How Can You and Your Target Person Best Solve Problems That Come Up in the Future?	249	(1)
Cooperative Work Efforts	250	(4)
How Can You Cooperate With Your Target Person in a Way That Promotes Teacher-Directed Cooperation and Fits Within the Norms of Your Work Setting?	252	(2)
Conclusion	254	(1)
Generalizing Your Plan to Others: Improved Collaboration With Parents and Family Members of Your Students	255	(26)
Idea Try-Out 11.1. What If?	257	(1)
Key 1: Understanding Family Diversity	258	(11)
Sample Goals and Activities Addressing Family Diversity	266	(2)
Project Try-Out 11.2. Best and Worst	268	(1)
Key 2: Developing Practical Communication Habits	269	(10)
Daily Classroom Hotline	273	(1)
Home/School Technology Connections	273	(2)
Newsletters	275	(1)
Resource Sharing	276	(1)
Meetings	276	(2)
Project Try-Out 11.3. Outreach	278	(1)
Key 3: Build on What You've Already Learned	279	(1)
Next Steps Project Try-Out 11.4. Thinking Back, Thinking Ahead	279	(1)
Conclusion	280	(1)
Generalizing Your Plan to Others: Improved Collaboration With Members of Your Interdisciplinary Team	281	(20)
The Life Cycle of Your Interdisciplinary Team	287	(10)
The Forming Stage	287	(1)
The Storming Stage	288	(2)
Idea Try-Out 12.1. Inside and Outside	290	(1)
The Norming Stage	291	(1)
The Performing Stage	292	(4)
Idea Try-Out 12.2. Surprise Thank-You Letter	296	(1)
The Adjourning Stage	297	(1)
Additional Use of Teams	297	(2)
Conclusion	299	(2)
References	301	(28)
Index	329