Running Header: COMMUNICATION

Effective Communication and Collaboration

Rachel Chadwick
Regent University

In partial fulfillment of UED 496 Field Experience ePortfolio, Spring 2015

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Introduction

Communication is one of the most vital components and marks of an effective

teacher. Both in and out of the classroom, communication ensures ongoing and
productive relationships, be it among families, students, fellow teachers, or
administrators. The core reason for building community with parents and other
professionals it to provide a support group for students. Students and parents must be
able to anticipate what is going on within the classroom, and making a conscious effort to
have an open window of communication will allow for a much more unified community.
The following artifacts demonstrate my involvement in open-communication with
parents as well as collaboration with other teachers.
Rationale
The first artifact that I have selected is the monthly homework calendar that is
sent home to parents at the beginning of the month and kept in students binders. This
outlines the expectations for what should be completed at home every night, and provides
a visual way for the teacher to check off whether students have their homework each day.
It is important to involve parents as much as possible in the classroom because they are
equally responsible with the education of their child. This includes keeping them up-todate with any assignments and reinforcement to be done outside of school, just as this
homework calendar does. In my kindergarten class, I have had the opportunity to
communicate with parents face to face, but also by writing any concerns or updates in
students binders at the end of each day.
The second artifact I chose was an introduction letter I wrote and sent home with
my students at the beginning of my first placement. In order to establish trust and foster a

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sense of open communication, I felt it important to let parents know that I would be
teaching their child and share a little information about myself. I first introduced myself
and my position in Ms. Harts class. I then proceeded to share my experiences in the
classroom thus far, including substitute teaching and practicum experience in another
third grade gifted cluster class. Finally, I concluded by letting them know how excited I
was to become a part of their childs learning, and that I was there to answer any
questions they might have. This was for the purpose of creating an understanding of my
ongoing commitment and interest in each student and family while in Ms. Harts class.
Reflection
As a teacher, strong communication is fundamental to every aspect within a
professional learning community. They must be skilled at listening to and receiving
feedback from students, faculty, and parents, while also explaining things clearly when
giving instruction or reporting student progress to others. During my time at Regent, I
have learned the necessity of effective communication and collaboration, and working
with my peers and professors presented me with countless opportunities to practice these
skills. In all of this, the most valuable lesson I carry with me is the power that our words
hold, and just how impactful what we say is in the classroom. Not only does our speech
affect our own personal growth and interactions with other professionals, but it is a
source of life to our students, if used for good.
Through classes, practicum observations, parent-teacher conferences,
collaboration meetings, and one-on-one interactions with students, my experiences at
Regent and while student teaching have instilled in me the value of accountable, lifegiving talk. Since death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21), I hold

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the responsibility of being a positive and effective communicator to the highest degree.
My experiences working alongside other teachers and opening the lines of
communication with parents has given me invaluable practice refining these skills and
allowed me to truly take part in the teamwork that is necessary for every childs success.