Group items tagged

To function successfully in a small group, students need to be able to communicate clearly on intellectual and emotional levels. Effective communicators: can explain their own ideas express their feelings in an open but non-threatening way listen carefully to others ask questions to clarify others’ ideas and emotions can sense how others feel based on their nonverbal communication will initiate conversations about group climate or process if they sense tensions brewing reflect on the activities and interactions of their group and encourage other group members to do so as well

To work together successfully, group members must demonstrate a sense of cohesion. Cohesion emerges as group members exhibit the following skills: Openness: Group members are willing to get to know one another, particularly those with different interests and backgrounds. They are open to new ideas, diverse viewpoints, and the variety of individuals present within the group. They listen to others and elicit their ideas. They know how to balance the need for cohesion within a group with the need for individual expression. Trust and self-disclosure: Group members trust one another enough to share their own ideas and feelings. A sense of mutual trust develops only to the extent that everyone is willing to self-disclose and be honest yet respectful. Trust also grows as group members demonstrate personal accountability for the tasks they have been assigned. Support: Group members demonstrate support for one another as they accomplish their goals. They exemplify a sense of team loyalty and both cheer on the group as a whole and help members who are experiencing difficulties. They view one another not as competitors (which is common within a typically individualistic educational system) but as collaborators. Respect: Group members communicate their opinions in a way that respects others, focusing on “What can we learn?” rather than “Who is to blame?” See constructive feedback in the process section for more details.

The greatest resource that teachers have is other teachers. But sadly, teamwork and collaboration are not commonly found in schools. Having taught for 20 years myself, I know how it works. Teachers have very challenging and stressful jobs, and part of what contributes to their level of challenge and stress is a teacher's tendency to isolate him- or herself. How many teachers close their door and feel like they are all alone in fighting their overwhelming battle against ignorance and apathy and paperwork and standardized testing?

began by adopting those exact habits of preparing alone and working in isolation. I was a lonely superhero who went home exhausted each day without the encouragement or support of my more experienced peers

I had assumed that I could be more effective when planning and working alone, but I eventually found that, when working with people, efficient is rarely truly effective.

Historically, students with disabilities were often denied access to public schools, placed in segregated classrooms or placed in regular classrooms without the right support. However, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) changed all that.

The publication cites research that shows “as many as 85 percent of students with disabilities can master general education content if they receive educational supports,” and notes benefits that include:more instructional time;fewer absences;better post-secondary outcomes;social benefits to non-disabled students as they learn to form “positive relationships” and better relate to “a variety of people.”

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) states that students with individual education plans (IEPs) must be educated in the least-restrictive environments (LREs) available. Under IDEA, inclusive education (or mainstreaming) has become a standard operating procedure for US public schools. Students with IEPs can range from individuals with Down syndrome or forms of autism to those with speech impediments or dyslexia—all of which require varying levels of support.

For inclusion to show positive benefits, the learning environment and instructional models must be carefully established to provide strong learning opportunities for all students. Special education and general education teachers must have mutual respect and open minds toward the philosophy of inclusion, as well as strong administrative support and knowledge of how to meet the needs of students with disabilities.

Special education teachers serve as advocates for students with disabilities and special needs. This includes ensuring that all school officials and employees understand the importance of inclusion and how to best implement inclusion in all campus activities. Advocacy might include requesting inclusion-focused professional development activities—especially programs that help general education teachers better understand inclusion best practices—or providing information to community members about success rates of inclusive teaching.

Sample Teaching Activities to Support Core Competencies of Social and Emotional Learning

What is SEL?

Four Strategies that Promote SEL

Best Practices, Strategies, and Recommendations for Improving School Climate and Culture

ED’s guidance is developed to assist stakeholders with effectively selecting and implementing supports that work to improve outcomes for children.

In addition to the four levels of evidence for choosing interventions, the ED guidance document emphasizes that “ways to strengthen the effectiveness of ESEA investments include identifying local needs, selecting evidence-based interventions that SEAs, LEAs, and schools have the capacity to implement, planning for and then supporting the intervention, and examining and reflecting upon how the intervention is working,” as illustrated in the figure from the guidance document (U.S. Department of Education, 2016, p. 3).