Comments on: How to Survive Being the Newbie on the EI Team

By: Dana Childress, M.Ed.

Dana Childress, M.Ed. — Thu, 12 May 2016 15:55:06 +0000

In reply to Leah.

I hope your week has been a great success, Leah! Good luck and welcome to EI! 🙂

By: Leah

Leah — Sun, 08 May 2016 08:14:51 +0000

Thanks so much for the article. It made me feel so much better! I have been shadowing for a week and I will be officially on my own in two days starting on Monday! I am completely nervous and feel as If I’m going to fail. There is so much to know and I have no idea where to begin! Thanks for the strategies =)

By: Dana Childress, M.Ed.

Dana Childress, M.Ed. — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 12:23:03 +0000

In reply to Amy Cocorikis.

That’s a wonderful point, Amy. The partnership is where the answers are found and all of us get better at facilitating that shared discovery over time. This is an important thing to help families understand too!

By: Amy Cocorikis

Amy Cocorikis — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 17:21:19 +0000

Great tips! I also hope that the “newbies” in the field today are comforted a bit by the fact that their role in EI is not that of the “expert” who is walking in with a magic bag and all of the answers! Partnering with families; the shared discovery process of gathering assessment information; and wondering together how best to support participation, engagement and independence in daily routines means that we are all in this together!

By: Dana Childress, M.Ed.

Dana Childress, M.Ed. — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 18:47:24 +0000

In reply to Sarah Nichols.

Thanks for the great resource, Sarah! Thinking about team development really takes this discussion to a deeper level. So does the idea of the parent being the newbie on the team – that is so true! Not only is the parent new to the team, but he/she is usually new to the whole EI universe and might also be new to parenthood. Some of these tips could be helpful for parents too – find a mentor/another parent who’s been there, read about how EI works, pick the brains of those around you, and give yourself time!

By: Sarah Nichols

Sarah Nichols — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 17:21:35 +0000

I think these are all great strategies! One thing that I have found helpful is to understand the different stages of team development. Even if the team you are working with has worked together before you may revert back to the “forming” stage for a bit as the new additions to the team start to get to know each other and learn to trust each other. (Resource on 5 Stages of Team Development: http://www.slideshare.net/perspectum/5-stages-of-group-development-norms-tuckman-16474067)

The other thing that I feel is important to keep in perspective is that when you are no longer a “newbie” think about what things helped you when you were so you can help out the new “newbies” you meet along the way. Especially families who are often the “newbie” on a team when they enter EI and work with early interventionists who may or may not already have the experience working together.