ABSTRACT
This chapter describes collaboration skills special educators are likely to need as they work across settings, grade levels, and programs or services. It overviews several of the most widely applicable collaboration skills special educators should develop and refine so that they effectively collaborate across situations. The chapter explains the key structures that support professional collaboration for co-teaching teams. It clarifies the blend of collaborative and directive interactions that occur between special educators and paraprofessionals. Effective collaborators are skillful at asking more of the former type of question and fewer of the latter to increase engagement and contributions of their collaborative partners or team members. In many locales, paraprofessionals work in general education classes to provide support. Although this is not co-teaching, this assistance is appreciated and vital to student success. However, the general educator, special educator, and paraprofessional should collaborate, especially when challenges occur.
