Working Collaboratively

This KnowledgeBase archive includes content and external links that were accurate and relevant as of September 30, 2019.

Learning to work cooperatively and collaboratively with others to address the needs of specific students is not easy. Few educators have training in this area. Although collaborative cross-disciplinary programs are beginning to appear in schools, few school personnel have had training in applying multicultural concepts to addressing the needs of learners with disabilities and limited proficiency in English.
 

The article offers guidance as to the following challenges:

• Barriers to collaboration
• Changing perceptions of collaboration
• Promoting collaboration
• Collaborating among teachers
• Cooperative planning
• Collaboration with Parents
   

The article draws the following conclusion:

in an era of decreasing resources and rapidly increasing student diversity, collaboration is an essential strategy for enhancing resource utilization and program cost effectiveness. Collaboration can also provide the means to meet the educational needs of many students in mainstream and special education settings. As administrators, teachers, and parents learn to collaborate, they increase learning opportunities for themselves and for their children.

To view the complete document click on the source link below.

Source:

Collaboration in Schools Serving Students with Limited English Proficiency and Other Special Needs, Fradd, Sandra H., ERIC Clearinghouse on Languages and Linguistics Washington DC., Center for Applied Linguistics Washington DC. December 1992.

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