Running head: EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION 1

Effective Communication and Collaboration

Myra Verdes

Regent University

In partial fulfillment of EFND 595 Field Experience ePortfolio, Spring 2017

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Introduction

Teachers and educators must have the skills to communicate well. It involves listening,

speaking, and as well as reading and writing. It is an ongoing practice in everyday in classrooms

and schools. Teachers who are highly skilled in communication excel in their profession. They

have the ability to transmit valuable information and knowledge to the students, parents,

colleagues, and everyone around them.

Rationale for Selection of Artifacts

As I began my student teaching I thought it would be courteous to communicate to my

students' families. My first artifact is the take home letter that I sent out the first day of my

student teaching. I wanted to build a relationship with both the students and their families during

my stay in my cooperating teachers classroom. The letter home was basically an introduction of

who I am and my purpose in the classroom. I wanted to inform all parents and guardians about

my presence in the classroom and that their children were in good hands.

My second artifact is a photograph of the second grade collaboration with the reading

specialist. I had the chance to participate in their collaboration about a performance task lesson

that will take place during the unit about Egypt. It was great to see how teachers work together

with one of the specialists in the school and how they plan together. The unity of the teachers and

staff in the school shows the amount of time and hard work they pull together to provide what is

best for their students. During this collaboration, I was able to share my idea of a performance

task that students can do that connects an activity we have done during the weather unit.
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Reflection on Practice

Communication is a form of interaction between students, parents, and colleagues.

Parents trust teachers with their children. It is important to form an open communication since

students spend most of their day with the teacher. This will provide parents and families the

chance to know what is happening in the classroom. A welcome letter and newsletters are

examples of ways to keep in touch with one another.

The first artifact communicates to parents that another adult will be present in the

classroom to step in to teach the students with the supervision of the homeroom teacher. It

informs the parents that their child is continuously learning and is well taken care of. This

introductory letter is the best form of communication for student teachers to avoid any

misunderstandings with parents to have a clear line of communication from the beginning.

Although teaching is often done in isolation without any other adults in the classroom,

collaboration is the most effective way for teachers (Wong & Wong, 2009). It raises the

productivity and quality of the work of teachers (2009). Also, teachers who work in teams have

the ability to gather information that will help the student's needs. It takes time and effort to set a

time to meet with other colleagues, but the outcome surpasses what one individual can do in the

classroom. Multiple minds thinking together for one purpose is better than one mind. In addition,

collaborative teaching can ease the stress of a novice teacher. Through gathering information and

working together with veteran teachers can improve and create a meaningful student learning

environment.

Reference
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Wong , H. K., & Wong, R. T. (2009). The First Days of School: How to be an Effective Teacher.

Mountain View: Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc.