What Do Effective Teams Do?

Posted: June 10, 2026

Take a moment to consider the value of teaming and collaborating in early childhood education (ECE). What do effective teams do? How might you benefit from teaming and collaborating? Who is part of your team? How do you contribute positively to the team?

Primary school teachers looking over lesson materials and talking to each other in an area only for staff

Primary school teachers looking over lesson materials and talking to each other in an area only for staff

The book Building Blocks for Teaching Young Children in Inclusive Settings (Sandall et al., 2024) identifies five things that effective collaborative teams do:

1. Build good and just relationships

Meaningful relationship building is the first step. Try these check-in questions to build relationships: What has your attention today? What is on your heart and mind right now? Share one- or two-word intentions you hold for today’s meeting or activities.

2. Have a shared vision

Consider creating a vision board with pictures and words that convey the team's core, shared beliefs. What do we believe about children's learning and our work? What do we believe about our ability to support children? How will the team's collaborative plans support children's learning?

3. Establish clearly defined roles and responsibilities

Identify who is on the team and what expectations and responsibilities are for each team member, including yourself.

4. Communicate effectively and often

Identify how the team will communicate: in person, virtually, via text or email, how often, and with what tools (forms, notebooks, data sheets, or communication logs). Consider what needs to be communicated (goals, plans, data, challenges, strengths, logistical factors, etc.), and ensure the appropriate consent is obtained for sharing information. What routines will help the team review their processes and communication?

5. Support one another to have hard conversations

All teams need time for reflection. Along with celebrating growth and progress, teams need safe spaces to work through challenges, such as miscommunication, misinformation, and challenging behaviors. What supports hard conversations?

Collaboration and teaming are essential for all early childhood teams. This is particularly important when working with external specialists, such as early intervention (EI) and early childhood special education (ECSE) programs. Learn more with the following Better Kid Care online courses.

Reference

Sandall, S., Gauvreau, A., Joseph, G., & Schwartz, I. (2024). Building Blocks for Teaching Young Children in Inclusive Settings, 4th Edition. Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.