Collaborate

collaborate, com- teamed up with laborare ("to labor") to form collaborare ("to labor together")
During Spotlight Classroom visits, oftentimes our conversation swirls around the idea of collaboration with students in our classrooms. What does it look like? How do we get students to learn from and with each other? What’s the teacher’s place in all of this? It’s ironic because we are collaborating around collaboration.
Collaboration doesn’t just happen. It requires a skillful person who teaches others how to engage in discussions with others.
	I learned about the true power of collaboration from my friend Kimberly Monfort. Several years ago we both stepped out of our classrooms to serve OMSD as Instructional Coaches. This was a new form of educational leadership for both of us. Every day we were learning how to do something new; Talk about a steep learning curve! Because we were learning on the job, we would often argue over the right way to get something done. Kimberly would NEVER let me have my way! At first, I was so frustrated and felt like my voice wasn’t being heard, I felt dumb, and was questioning my ability to do this job well. Over time we slowly started to realize we were forcing one another to become better. Kimberly never judged me or made me feel devalued, she just kept questioning and pushing. We weren’t solving problems MY WAY or KIMBERLY’S WAY, we were solving problems OUR way. I am forever grateful for the gift she gave me because she cared so deeply about my understanding and learning that she never backed down. We learned the power of laboring together. My time with Kimberly forever changed who I am as a learner.
Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you,                                        spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.” -Amy Poelher
Cooperative Discussions are about sharing information, Collaborative Discussions are about becoming better together.
	We have been looking into what Effective Expression looks like for students in OMSD. Part of my wonderings led me to create this document which combines the California ELA/ELD Framework Effective Expression work with Listening and Speaking Standards. There are some steps you will need to take in order to support others in meaningful collaboration. These steps apply to all learners. Consider the complexity of task. It is difficult to learn around a task that is too weak or too strong. The task needs to be just beyond the reach of the learner. Listening is a learned skill. Teach the group how to listen. How we listen must become part of the pattern of how we learn together. Questioning is a learned skill. The group must learn the art of asking good questions. We have all been quizzed by a masterful questioner and thought how did they do that? It can be learned. Collaborative arguing is a crucial skill that must happen between the group. Attack the idea NOT the person. There is a big difference and it feels different as a learner. Recognize the power of the groupthink. Remember united we stand, divided we fall. Join me over the next several months as we delve deeper into each of these five steps I have suggested are necessary for collaboration. Happy Learning, Andrea Thune