Regular Education Teachers - Open Communication

It is essential that the entire educational team, including the educational interpreter and the parent is able to communicate openly. In order to keep communication flowing freely, a teacher should:

• Share plans with the interpreter − Of course, the classroom teacher is in charge of and responsible for the education of all students in his/her classroom, not just the hearing students. However, it is essential that the teacher share classroom philosophies and educational goals with the interpreter in order to help the him/her produce the best interpretation possible.

An interpreter will do a much better job if he/she understands the teacher’s teaching goals, style of classroom management, and general philosophy of learning. In order to interpret the teacher’s goals and intentions, the interpreter needs a good understanding of each of these elements. The more an interpreter knows about how a teacher teaches and what he or she will be teaching, the better the message will be conveyed through sign language.

• Talk with the interpreter − By talking with the interpreter, a teacher can learn what he/she does that helps makes the interpreter’s job easier or harder. It also helps the teacher learn about how the interpreter communicates with the student. For example, is the interpreter modifying what the teacher is saying to accommodate the student? Communicating regularly, accurately, and appropriately also gives the teacher a sense of how much, if any, assistance the interpreter is providing to the student. And, open communication gives the interpreter the opportunity to share observations and recommendations on how to better reach the deaf or hard of hearing student.