Form tutors in the joint teaching of Music and collaborative work: perspectives and experiences

Abstract

In the Portuguese school system, form tutors (FT) are selected among regular teachers assigned to the class. The joint teaching of music is a part of the educational system in basic education. There is also the position of FT in specialized schools, which also includes a three fold function (relationship with the student's family and relationship with other class teachers), very similarly as with the FTs in the previously mentioned teaching modality. In this field of the relationship among schools, it seems to us that the conceptualization of the FT as core figure in the coordination and promotion of the collaborative work of the teachers of the class is essential. This communication is based on the analysis of the empirical data obtained from the testimonies of FTs (from schools specializing in teaching music who work in a joint teaching system), regarding their representations and experiences in leadership and coordination of teachers among schools, in which there is a joint teaching system.