Respect and communication. That's what teachers and paraprofessionals say makes an effective classroom team. In speaking with paraprofessionals and teachers, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has gathered several tips about how to make working together work. These tips include: (1) Creating a healthy, open relationship between teacher and paraprofessional; (2) Actively listening; (3) Avoiding communication barriers; (4) Planning together to keep everyone productive and motivated; (5) Being assertive and mutually respectful to cement the bond in a classroom team; (6) Defining roles and responsibilities to prevent confusion and conflict; (7) Providing feedback to build a working team.