Running Head: EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION

Effective Communication and Collaboration

Candice Milam
Regent University

In partial fulfillment of UED 495 Field Experience ePortfolio, Spring 2015

Introduction

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION

For educators, communication is key for success. Involving parents, students, and
other professionals in the school in the collaboration process means there are multiple
individuals working together for the better of education. There are many ways teachers
can communicate with students and parents. Teachers can collaborate with other teachers
to help them grow. It is very easy for teachers to get caught up in the things they must get
done in the classroom and isolate themselves. Communication amongst faculty affects the
school culture, which is why there is a growing trend to have teachers collaborate, work
in teams, and engage in peer coaching. Collaboration helps teachers share ideas, increase
student success, and increases community involvement.
Rationale for Selection of Artifacts
During my Virginia Beach placement, I didn't receive any opportunities to
experience collaboration. The teachers met weekly but planning hardly ever happened.
However, my Chesapeake placement has already given me two opportunities to
experience collaboration. The artifacts that I chose were two short parent letters
introducing myself and a collaboration meeting notes paper.
My first artifacts are two short parent letters to introduce myself to parents. It is
very important to include parents in their childs education. I wanted to send the letter as
soon as possible so that if and when the students mentioned me then the parents would
know exactly whom they were talking about. In the letters, I told a little bit about myself
like where I go to school, my major, what I like to do, etc. I also wanted to send the letter
home so that the parents can read my introduction to their children. Its important to me
that the students know who I am and what Im about.

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION

On Tuesday, I got the opportunity to stay after school for a professional learning
community meeting. It was a meeting that all the first grade teachers at Great Bridge
Primary stayed after school to collaborate and discuss things going on in the week. I
chose this artifact because it was a paper given to each person as they walked in the
meeting. During the meeting we discussed testing for that week and decided the
appropriate procedures for benchmark tests.
Reflection on Theory and Practice
Regent has taught me the importance of being a life long learner. As a teacher, I
will have many opportunities to learn from other people. Its important to effectively
communicate with others in order to provide a healthy learning environment for you and
your students. Carla McClure (2008) states,
School leaders who foster collaboration among novice and veteran
teachers can improve teacher retention and teacher satisfaction... They
have found that new teachers seem more likely to stay in schools that have
an integrated professional culture in which new teachers needs are
recognized and all teachers share responsibility for student success.
Being a novice teacher, I would feel more comfortable if I was in a school that had more
collaboration so that I could get help when I need it from my fellow colleagues. When
there is collaboration among the community, its not only good for the student but also for
the educator. Ronald Partin (2009) states, When groups effectively tap all their
members resources, they are capable of achieving synergy, meaning that the group
product is superior to anything any one individual could have achieved alone (p. 275).

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION

Regent has taught me that the ultimate goal is to better my students academically and
morally, to care about my students, and to communicate with my students.
References
McClure, C. (2008, January 1). The Benefits of Teacher Collaboration. Retrieved March
5, 2015, from http://www.districtadministration.com/article/benefits-teachercollaboration
Partin, R. (2009). Classroom Teacher's Survival Guide: Practical Strategies,
Management Techniques, and Reproducibles for New and Experienced Teachers
(3rd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.