7.3 (7S4C, 7S7C): Ability to be sensitive and respectful in communications regarding all children and families – regardless of differences in cultural heritage, lifestyle, values, and home environment.
7.4 (7K2B): Awareness of the roles of students, parents, teachers, paraprofessionals, and other school and community personnel in planning an individualized program, when relevant.

Introduction

Effective teamwork is a critical part of planning an individualized program for students with learning needs. Different members of the school community play different roles as members of an educational planning team. Each team member adds a unique perspective to the planning process. Characteristics of good and effective teams will be explored in this unit. Working as a team is the most comprehensive way to develop an individualized plan for students.

As a paraprofessional, you may have the opportunity to work with individuals from various cultural and social backgrounds. Maintaining open communication is crucial in educational settings, especially with children and youth with disabilities and their families. This unit will help you understand general principles and ways of interacting with students and families that are family-centered and culturally sensitive. The amount of contact paraprofessionals have with families varies widely. The primary contact person between the school and families should always be licensed professionals. However, the following suggestions may help in your communication with families whether contacts are on a daily basis or less frequently.

Objectives

As you read the objectives for this unit, think about and rate your current knowledge using the following scale.

1. I do not understand this.
2. I do understand this.
3. I understand this well enough to use in my work.
4. I could teach others about it and use it in my work.

In this unit you will:

• Identify why working as a team is important to developing an individualized program.
• Identify what members of the school community should be included on a planning team.
• Identify what teamwork means. Identify what skills are necessary to work as an effective team member.
• Learn the importance of developing and maintaining relationships with teachers, other school staff, students and their families, and the community.

The Para eLink is sponsored by the Minnesota Paraprofessional Consortium, in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Education, located at the Institute on Community Integration in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota.

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