How do you plan and implement co-teaching strategies with your partner teacher?
Co-teaching is a collaborative approach to instruction that involves two or more teachers sharing the responsibility of planning, delivering, and assessing learning for a group of students. Co-teaching can offer many benefits, such as increased student engagement, differentiated instruction, and professional growth. However, co-teaching also requires careful planning and implementation to ensure its effectiveness and avoid common challenges. In this article, you will learn how to plan and implement co-teaching strategies with your partner teacher.
Before you start co-teaching, you and your partner teacher should have a clear and shared understanding of your goals and expectations for co-teaching. You should discuss your vision, philosophy, and values for teaching and learning, as well as your roles, responsibilities, and preferences for co-teaching. You should also establish how you will communicate, coordinate, and resolve conflicts with each other. Having a written co-teaching agreement can help you document and clarify your goals and expectations.
-
Delineate specific responsibilities for each co-teacher - who will lead which lessons/units, grading duties, communicating with parents, managing classroom, etc. Avoid duplication of efforts. Agree on use of physical classroom space and organization of materials/resources so you don't undermine each other's systems. Define protocols for activities like pulling small groups, providing 1:1 support, monitoring behavior, transitioning, etc. to avoid contradictory practices. Establish availability for joint planning time as well as a schedule/norms for your planning meetings to make them productive. Discuss professional development interests and how you can observe, coach, and provide feedback to one another.
Co-teaching can take different forms depending on the needs of the students, the content of the curriculum, and the availability of resources. There are six common co-teaching models that you can choose from: one teach, one observe; one teach, one assist; parallel teaching; station teaching; alternative teaching; and team teaching. Each model has its own advantages and disadvantages, and you should select the one that best suits your situation and objectives. You can also vary your co-teaching models throughout the year to provide diversity and flexibility.
-
One Teach, One Observe - This allows for real-timedata gathering on student understanding, behaviors, and areas of confusion to inform future adjustment while the other teacher leads instruction. Parallel Teaching - Separating the class and teaching the same content simultanesouly provides more student engagement and individualized attention in each smaller group. Station Teaching - This model works well for lessons with multiple components by allowing students to rotate through different activities delivered by each teacher. Alternative Teaching - Separating students into differentiated groups (enriched vs. remediated) allows for tailoring instruction to better meet diverse learner needs. Team Teaching - Both teachers teaching jointly
Once you have decided on your co-teaching models, you need to plan your co-teaching lessons in detail. You should plan your lessons together with your partner teacher, using a common format and language. You should align your lessons with the standards, objectives, and assessments of the curriculum, and differentiate your instruction to meet the diverse needs of your students. You should also plan how you will manage the classroom environment, materials, and transitions, as well as how you will monitor and evaluate student progress and co-teaching effectiveness.
-
Co-teaching strategies involve collaborative efforts with my partner teacher. We begin by brainstorming ideas and organizing them into mind maps, outlining lesson objectives, activities, and assessments. Weekly meetings allow us to discuss progress, refine plans, and address any challenges. We integrate visible thinking routines and habits of mind into our lessons to encourage critical thinking and reflection. During co-teaching, we alternate roles, providing varied instruction and support to meet diverse student needs effectively. Regular communication and flexibility ensure seamless coordination and maximize the benefits of co-teaching for our students!
When you implement your co-teaching lessons, you should follow your plan as closely as possible, but also be flexible and responsive to any changes or challenges that may arise. You should maintain a positive and respectful relationship with your partner teacher, and communicate frequently and openly with each other. You should also engage and support your students in their learning, and provide them with feedback and guidance. You should model collaboration and cooperation for your students, and celebrate their achievements and growth.
-
Establish a shared system of discreet cues or signals to smoothly transition lead roles without disrupting the lesson flow. But avoid appearing too scripted. Allow for spontaneous sharing of complementary examples or questioning from each teacher. Purposefully direct questions to each co-teacher at times to model that both are equally knowledgeable leaders. Use humor and friendly banter to create a welcoming, interactive classroom culture. Ask students periodically for their feedback on how the co-teaching has impacted their learning experience. Be open to constructive criticism and coaching from one another in a trusting partnership.
After you implement your co-teaching lessons, you should reflect on your co-teaching practice with your partner teacher. You should review your goals and expectations, and compare them with the actual outcomes and experiences of co-teaching. You should identify the strengths and weaknesses of your co-teaching practice, and discuss what worked well and what did not. You should also solicit feedback from your students, colleagues, and administrators on your co-teaching practice, and use it to improve your co-teaching skills and strategies.
Based on your reflection and feedback, you should adjust and improve your co-teaching practice with your partner teacher. You should revise your goals and expectations, and make changes to your co-teaching models, lessons, and methods as needed. You should also seek opportunities for professional development and learning, such as attending workshops, reading articles, or joining networks on co-teaching. You should continue to collaborate and communicate with your partner teacher, and celebrate your successes and challenges as co-teachers.
-
Formalize a routine for periodic check-ins and data review between co-teaching partners to critically analyze what is/isn't working. Having an established reflection protocol can provide the structure for an honest yet constructive dialogue. In addition to student performance data, gather other inputs like peer observations, video recordings of lessons, and student/parent survey feedback to gain an even fuller perspective on areas for adjustment. Reach out to other experienced co-teaching teams at your school or through professional networks to learn best practices they've discovered. An openness to modeling and adapting strategies from others can accelerate your improvement.
Rate this article
More relevant reading
-
TeachingHow do you co-teach effectively?
-
K-12 EducationWhat are the most effective teaching strategies for implementing a new curriculum?
-
TeachingHere's how you can shape your teaching philosophy and approach as a new teacher.
-
Critical ThinkingHere's how you can use critical thinking to thrive in a teaching career.