1. What are the
potential benefits to the achievement of consultation and collaboration (for
yourself, team members, students, families, etc?)
There are
several potential benefits that can come from the achievement of consultation
and collaboration. Everyone involved in the educational system can benefit from
successful consultation and collaboration, and it can lead to achieving the
idea of educating the “whole child” because the entire team working with them
is working in unison. Possible benefits
include…
·
More
positive attitudes towards the educational process – This can be a benefit to
teachers, team members, students and families. When people have a more positive
attitude towards something they are involved with the outcomes are going to be
better. This is definitely evident in the Sunrise Valley Middle School example
that is presented in the Kochhar-Bryant text.
·
Improved
transitions - If all of the services involved with a student consult and
collaborate efficiently with each other, it is more likely that the student
will be better prepared for transitions between grade levels or to life beyond
schooling.
·
Improved
understanding – For teachers and school staff this means having a more
complete picture of their students, actually achieving the “whole child” ideal.
Through improved communication and relationships with families and other
service providers, teachers can better serve their students in the classroom
and as case managers. Through consultation and collaboration everyone involved
can be on the same page, working together to help the student to be successful
in achieving their goals.
·
Looking
and being more professional – Through achieving consultation and collaboration teachers
and team members will look and be more professional. When the team serving a student
runs like a well oiled machine it reflects well on everyone involved, and helps
build a positive reputation. This can have a dramatic effect on the way
families, and communities feel about a school program or service provider.
Successful programs can also serve as models for other programs to achieve
collaboration and consultation.
·
Improved
parental involvement – If the team around a student shows parents that they
successfully consult and collaborate to best serve their child, then the
parents will be more willing participants in the collaborative effort to
educate their child.
~
2. What are some
potential barriers to the successful achievement of consultation and
collaboration?
Just as there are several benefits
to successfully achieving consultation and collaboration, there are also plenty
of barriers that could prevent this achievement. Possible barriers include…
·
Grudges or
people simply not getting along or working well together
·
Poor
communication
·
Parents/families
that just don’t care about their child’s education
·
Time
constraints
·
Financial/funding
issues
·
Lack of
leadership from administration
·
History of
poor collaboration and consultation
·
Apathy
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