Some Final Suggestions for Collaboration and Communication
Communication in any workplace can be, at times, a bit complicated, especially for the newest arrivals, and even in the relatively benign setting of center or school. Here are just a few ideas for your upcoming experiences:
· Volunteer for a committee or special project, and use it to practice your best collaboration skills.
· Practice using I-messages whenever issues arise with others. Rehearsing them in advance, if possible, helps make them more effective.
· Volunteer to organize a staff retreat or workshop on a topic of everyone’s interest.
· Listen more than you talk in meetings and in the teachers’ room.
· Reduce workplace gossip by avoiding participation as a listener or speaker.
Chapter Summary
he focus for Chapter 8 has been on interactions between school or center and families and communities. In addition, interactions between teachers or caregivers and their colleagues have been discussed. Following are important points to remember.
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· Families come in many configurations and “parents” might be a variety of people, not all of them related biologically.
· Families are children’s first teachers. Caregivers and teachers can learn much from them and will do well to treat their knowledge and concerns with interest and respect.
· There are many sorts of diversity within families. Caregivers and teachers should learn as much as possible about the cultural attributes of their site’s families.
· Children with disabilities and challenges are frequently included in early childhood settings. Caregivers and teachers should learn what is necessary to provide best services, encouragement, and care.
· There are benefits to children, families, caregivers, and teachers to good home– school relationships, but especially to children.
· There are diverse reasons why parents don’t come to centers or schools for conferences or informal communication. This doesn’t mean they don’t support their children’s learning and education.
Concept Check
· There are mutual benefits when centers and schools interact with community agencies and organizations.
· The community within a school or center is an important place to demonstrate good collaboration skills, particularly for beginning teachers.
· Communication, both listening and expressing oneself, is an important skill to have in the school/center community. More listening than speaking is a good approach for beginning teachers to take.
· Leadership is an important quality to develop right from the start of a career in early childhood care and education.