Collaboration with Teachers
Today, I’m talking about collaboration with teachers! All my experience (10 years) has been in schools, with the exception of one year that I worked in a private practice. I think I have some pretty tried and true tips for collaborating with teachers.
As SLPs, we have to collaborate with a lot of different people on a daily basis: general education teachers, special education teachers, admin, other related services providers, etc. Here are my best tips for accomplishing this:
- Have an open door policy: When you’re not doing therapy or writing reports, leave your door open. This helps foster an environment where teachers feel like they can stop in and see you to chat.
- Email often: I often email teachers (both gen ed and sped) before IEP due dates to find out what each of their biggest concerns are related to a student. We don’t always have time for an in-person chat, but we can email and touch base.
- Ask for materials: Often you can ask general education teachers for science/social studies material and use it in therapy. They will appreciate that you’re interested in what’s happening in the classroom. (Disclaimer: Sometimes it’s not possible to get access to this as everyone is busy and that’s ok).
- Be friendly: Chat in the workrooms, ask how other people are. I always see recommendations to eat in the staff lunch room. I usually have a “working lunch” so I don’t do this, but there are other ways to get to know people.
- Go to special education team meetings: I’ve made myself a part of the special education team. I don’t attend every meeting, but I try to go often so that I know what’s going on in the building and with my students who I don’t case manage.
Hope this helps you!