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 LDAK is a nonprofit, volunteer organization whose purpose is to advance the education and general well-being of children and adults with learning disabilities.

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• To increase public awareness and understanding of learning disabilities
  
  
• To support individuals with learning disabilities and their families through information sharing and education
  
  
• To develop and promote legislative assistance
  
  
• To enhance communication with regular and special educators at all levels
  

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What is Collaboration? Why is it Important?

As a successful collaborative teaching team, Ms. Ross, a kindergarten teacher and her colleague, Ms. Tomko, an early childhood special education teacher have co-taught for the past 5 years in a public school kindergarten classroom. They meet weekly to plan for their teaching and discuss the children’s progress and development. Of particular concern is little 5 year old Alan’s slow developmental progress. He was diagnosed at age 4 with multiple disabilities. They talk about all of the difficulties he is experiencing in the classroom. Through their years of collaborative work, they have identified many keys to collaboration.

Desire to Work Together

Only through their willingness to work together can Ms. Ross and Ms. Tomko begin to help Alan and the rest of the children in the classroom reach their potential. They have discovered the first key to unlocking the door to successful teacher collaboration.

Definition of Collaboration

Collaboration is the effective interaction of two or more individuals working towards a common outcome or more precisely defined as the "direct interaction between at least two coequal parties voluntarily engaged in shared decision making as they work toward a common goal" (Friend & Cook, 2003, p.5).

Meet Regularly

Collaboration has a three-fold purpose, which includes meeting regularly to: Share knowledge and perspectives.
Arrive at better strategies than would be obtained by working alone
Improve learning outcomes for students (Stainback, & Stainback, 1992)

That is precisely what Ms. Ross and Ms. Tomko are doing. They meet weekly to share their professional knowledge and perspectives about the children with whom they work.

Share

Through their years of collaboration they have come to realize how important it is to meet weekly and plan learning activities appropriate for the developmental needs of all children. It is through this sharing of information that provides them with greater insights about each child in their class. After all, their goal for collaboration is to create a heightened professionalism, which ultimately impacts students. (Idol & West, 1991: Cramer, 1998)

Ability to Communicate

It is important to have deliberate and on-going communication among all collaborative partners. This provides opportunities for relationship building which ultimately impacts learning outcomes for the children. Ms. Ross and Ms. Tomko realize this provides opportunities for them to discuss Alan’s behaviors and identify opportunities for him to be successful in the classroom. This is a vital key to collaboration.

Build Essential Skills

A fundamental key to collaboration is building trust and having a level of respect for one another. Although they have always valued each other, through the years Ms. Ross and Ms. Tomko have developed a level of respect, understanding, and trust, which is necessary in order to maintain a continuous and successful relationship.

Identify Unique Talents

In a collaborative relationship, each person brings professional strengths and essential skills to the partnership. Each person has unique talents as well. Ms. Ross has a wealth of experience teaching young children. She is the curriculum expert. She is able to conceptualize activities, which are linked to the standards and based upon developmentally appropriate practice.

Ms. Tomko has taught young children with special needs in a variety of settings. As a result of her teaching and educational experience in special education she is able to assess each child’s needs and provide appropriate teaching strategies and accommodations when necessary.

Build an Effective Team

In order to build an effective team, personal and professional compatibility is essential. Collaboratively each teammate must know, understand, and be able to explain their role on the team.

An integral component to building an effective team is providing opportunities to nurture collaborative relationships and strengthen personal commitment for the betterment of the children.

Benefits of Collaboration

The benefits of collaboration are plentiful. Planning for successful collaboration takes time, hard work, commitment, and the ability to communicate. The results include benefits for the teachers as well as the students. In order to promote successful collaboration each key must be utilized. Together each of the keys is necessary in order to strengthen the partnership and thus, unlock the door to collaboration.

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