collaborative team teaching approach

A key to our philosophy is fully understanding what is required of collaborative teaching teams. This teaching approach is a remarkable way of teaching for those individuals who thrive on collaboration, enjoy brainstorming, and are comfortable with a high level of accountability.

Our experience has shown us that educators who work best in collaborative teaching teams are those who:

Strong teaching skills:

• Understand the developmental stages of young children and can use this knowledge and the knowledge of the materials themselves to give them opportunities for discovery and mastery when the readiness is observed.  These teachers are life-long learners themselves.
• Prefer teaching in a child-directed teaching environment rather than a more traditional one.
• Pursue information on how to strengthen their teaching skills.
• Can easily adapt throughout the day to teach in one-on-one, small group, and large group lessons.

Strong self-directed teaming skills:

• Understand the difference between compromise, consensus, and collaboration and recognize when each is an appropriate solution.
• View continuous communication between co-teachers and the Administrative Support Team as important and necessary.
• Enjoy brainstorming and listening to the ideas of others in order to find innovative solutions and methods for the classroom. 

High emotional maturity:

• Are comfortable with resolving conflict and holding others accountable in a professional and pleasant way.
• Seek out, listen, and respond to feedback in a constructive manner.
• Can respond to change in a positive manner, viewing evolution as a natural outcome of self-reflection.

Commitment to the Suzuki Approach:

• Are willing to put the needs of the children and team above their needs or desires.
• Believe that a "village” of teachers, parents and children provides a better learning environment for a child than the traditional setting.
• Demonstrate a genuine commitment to master the Suzuki philosophy.