An Enduring Understanding of a Teacher's Role..

Before, I end my blogging journey and investigation of Parents and Families of Children with Disabilities, I feel it is important to connect the knowledge I have gained through this investigation, to how my role as a teacher. Dr. Carr posted a PowerPoint with a wealth of information on, Collaboration Among School Personnel and Families. Through this PowerPoint, I was have gained a better sense and understanding of my role as a teacher and how I can positively impact and promote well-being of children with disabilities and their families. Below, I have identified key points that define a teacher's role:

Attitudes and Values:
•Regular teachers believe ALL students can succeed.
•Personnel accept responsibility for learning outcomes of students with disabilities.
•Personnel and the students are prepared to receive a student with disabilities.
•Parents are informed and support program goals.
•Special education staffs are committed to collaborative practice.

Central Role of the Teacher:
•The classroom teacher should have a central role in the process.
•The teacher must be involved, not informed. Serious conflict can result from ignoring the teacher.
•Mutual respect, communication, and equal footing are essential.
•Effective teams recognize the central role of the classroom teacher.

Value of Communication:
•Ineffective communication is the major source of rumors, misunderstandings, and conflict.
***In the interview I shared, the mother of the child with a disability also voiced that miscommunication was the cause of misunderstandings and she went on to state that communication is vital***
•Even the use of psychoeducational jargon can cause problems.
•Teachers who may not ordinarily hear technical terminology may be threatened by it, fearing the appearance of ignorance.

Effective Instructional Methods:•Teachers have the knowledge and skills needed to select and adapt curricula and instructional methods.
•A variety of instructional arrangements are available.
•Teachers create a cooperative learning environment and promote socialization


Collaboration, Functioning as a Team:
1. Parents-For as many students as possible, it is important to secure the participation of parents.
-The parents or guardian can provide a family history, important information about the child, and emphasize family values.
-For long-term planning, family values and priorities are extremely important.
-Parents can also provide important information about the child's functioning in the family, the neighborhood, and other groups.

2. Classroom Teacher -The teacher will bear significant responsibility for implementing the IEP and for educational planning, instruction, evaluation, and reporting.
-The teacher should be provided the necessary assistance and support to develop the appropriate learning environment, prepare the peer group to accept the child, adapt the curriculum, and supervise or coordinate the activities of teacher aides, volunteers, peer tutors, and others.

3. Special Education Teacher-The special educator can serve many role functions, depending on the circumstances and the arrangement of the inclusion program.
-In a full-inclusion model, the special education teacher will co-teach with the regular classroom teacher. As such, the special education teacher will share the responsibilities of IEP implementation, planning, instruction, evaluation, reporting, and daily instructional activities.
-The teacher will bear significant responsibility for implementing the IEP and for educational planning, instruction, evaluation, and reporting.
-The teacher should be provided the necessary assistance and support to develop the appropriate learning environment, prepare the peer group to accept the child, adapt the curriculum, and supervise or coordinate the activities of teacher aides, volunteers, peer tutors, and others.

Rationale for Working with Families:
•Children grow and develop within the context of their families
•Variables that affect families, also affect children in direct or indirect ways
•Systems theory helps portray how this works

Family Centered Practice
•Value your Partnerships
•Family Involvement fosters better outcome for children
•All families have strength find them

•Think of collaboration as a dance between partners- sometimes family takes the lead and sometimes professionals take the lead



•Build positive relationships