THE CONSULTANT'S CORNER: Itinerant Consultation in Early Childhood Special Education: Issues and Challenges

Special Education Teachers’ Attitudes and Perceptions of Teamwork

“…The topical themes that emerged not only parallel results with other disciplinary groups (Gallagher et al, in press;Gallagher & Malone, 2005;Malone et al, 2001;Malone & McPherson, 2004) but also are in keeping with variables identified in the extant teamwork literature as either facilitating or hindering team process and outcomes. For example, benefits of teamwork such as different perspectives (Senior & Swailes, 2004), sharing of ideas and information (Harris & Klein, 2002), problem solving and decision making (Meyers et al, 2001), improved programming (Welch & Tulbert, 2000), and general collaboration (Fleming & Monda-Amaya, 2001) were all identified by the teachers in this study. Team members who experience the benefits reflected in these themes are more likely to engage in or contribute to the team effort.…”

“…Considering the final question on recommendations they could offer, teachers' statements were focused on the topics of timing and scheduling (Huebner & Gould, 1991) and communication (Harris & Klein, 2002). Recommendations for improvements in timing and scheduling, in particular, reflected the teachers' emphasis on this as an area of concern.…”

“…Professionals working on school-based teams have identified both benefits of and challenges to teamwork that reflect these factors. For example, teamwork is believed to be effective in promoting collegiality (Malone, Gallagher, & Long, 2001) and the exchange of ideas and information (Harris & Klein, 2002). Team members believe they benefit from the insight gained through exposure to different experiential and disciplinary perspectives (Millward & Jeffries, 2001).…”

“…Team members believe they benefit from the insight gained through exposure to different experiential and disciplinary perspectives (Millward & Jeffries, 2001). Personnel report that teamwork can enhance communication (Harris & Klein, 2002), improve planning efforts and student outcomes (Hunt et al, 2003), promote parent involvement (Scott-Stein & Thorkilsden, 1999), and enhance problem solving and decision making (Senior & Swailes, 2004). Finally, team members believe that teamwork can result in a variety of personal benefits such as increased camaraderie (Malone et al, 2001), feelings of being included (Fenton, Yoshida, Maxwell, & Kaufman, 1979), the expansion of personal knowledge (Brown, 1995), and the provision of personal supports (Hunt et al, 2003).…”

Interprofessional partnerships involving school counsellors for children with special needs: a broad based systematic review using the PRISMA framework

“…() identified that consultation focuses on training, mentoring, and coaching, which can take place both formally and informally. Consultation with students with special needs expands beyond the school and incorporates the community (Harris and Klein, ).…”