Personal Philosophy Statement

 

Importance of Collaboration

          Collaboration is important in special education because the student who is in special education has needs which assistance should be provided within the school setting. This assistance is provided through accommodations and modifications which are stated in their IEP. It is the responsibility of the teacher to implement the IEP within the school setting. Parent participation is within the six principles of special education law promotes collaboration between the implementer and the parent or guardian. These players are to collaborate to provide the student with the most appropriate placement within the least restrictive environment setting.

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Factors and Barriers

          To ensure successful collaboration in special education, timely communication, and relationships two important factors that promote positive success. Responding to parents in a timely manner will relay the message to these parents that their student’s education an important factor in teaching. When a parent feels as though you care, then they are able to open up an provide you with many details about the student to help the student progress in the school setting. This will then help build and maintain relationships with family members so if and when an issue is to arise you can be involved with the decisions that are to follow.

          These factors can also become barriers due to the work in which it takes to maintain many of these types of relationships. Many students do not come from two-parent households and sometimes it may be hard to maintain these relationships. In order to do so, it is important to make contact before school starts or within the first week. Allow parents to know in which ways you can be contacted and what is best for them. Being accessible through different ways can allow parents to feel more in contact with their student’s learning even though there may be barriers.   

          Collaboration is needed throughout the student’s learning and timepoints. Collaboration should be maintained through the student’s goals and progress within these goals. The teacher and the family should work together so that the student is constantly progressing and therefore new goals created. I believe collaboration should be a constant, but I also believe there should be meetings at the end of each quarter to discuss student progress toward their IEP goals. This allows time for teachers and parents to work and then come together to review data that has been gathered throughout time.

 

Culture and Power

          Culture affects the collaboration effects due to different beliefs about education practices and language. There are many different beliefs on who should be educated in different cultures as well as how they should be educated. In some cultures, the gender of a person could mean their education is not as important as another. At times, many parents do not know how to find the right resources to help educate their children. The language barrier affects collaboration because if the parent does not understand the language or the meaning within that language then they will sometimes react as passive.

          Power helps to rule education in an effort to keep education alive. Power can be a monetary as well as goal-setting value in education. Those who are financially stable are able to access different resources not only to help with their weaknesses but also with their strengths. A student whose strengths are identified and accented through learning are able to cope and learn how to overcome their weaknesses.

          The importance of collaboration effects future generations and the growth of knowledge around us. Collaboration is crucial in the roles of special education teachers and the parents of the students who are in the classroom.  Building a strong bridge to help with the constant flow of knowledge will help create and maintain lifelong learners.