Practise working collaboratively and collegially as well as independently
A collaborative teaching and learning community puts the students’ learning first and celebrates good teaching. Collaborative teaching might be:
- co-teaching or team teaching
- two or more teachers or other educators working together to plan units and lessons, possibly in transdisciplinary ways thematically,
- across a grade level or department
- across the curriculum,
drawing on Big Ideas and core competencies.
The ability for teachers to be able to work collaboratively with colleagues is a key element for professional development and student success. In fact, many schools have “collaboration blocks” built into the school timetable.
Factors That Influence Collaborative Success
- Dispositions that lead to mutual trust and respect between colleagues; relationality
- Curiosity, desire to learn and a willingness to share and learn with and from each other
- Time during the day/week/month to plan and reflect
- A focus on student success
- A growth mindset
- Thinking of teaching and learning both inside and outside the walls of the classroom
Reflection
- What do collaboration and collegiality “look like” in schools and classrooms you have visited?
- What experiences have you had working collaboratively with others?
- What attributes do you bring to a professional, collaborative team?
- What can you learn from others? What can others learn from you?
In the Summary Report of Practicum, the following descriptors are used under the heading of Collaboration and Community Engagement. How are you demonstrating these in your own learning? What evidence do you have of collaboration with colleagues? How can you imagine demonstrating these during practicum?
- Relationship Building
- Inclusive Practice
- Responds to Diversity
- Facilitation Skills
- Conflict Resolution
- Creating Community
- Collaboration
- Communication with home
- How can the evolution of your teacher identity, teaching philosophy, and teaching practice benefit from participation in collaborative opportunities?
- How do educators collaborate with one another, with students, families, communities, other schools or organizations? What opportunities do you see for collaboration to support student learning?