Mentor TrainingEast Tennessee State University

Co-Teaching Models and Strategies

Definition

Two teachers working together in a classroom with groups of students; sharing the planning, organization, delivery, and assessment of instructionas well as the physical space.

Copyright 2010, St. Cloud State University, Teacher Quality Enhancement Center: Research Funded by a US Department of Education Teacher Quality Enhancement Grant

Co-Teaching is an attitudeof sharing

the classroom and the students.

Co-Teachers must always be thinking…

We’re Both Teaching!Copyright 2012, The Academy for Co-Teaching and Collaboration at St. Cloud State University

• Original Research Funded by a US Department of Education, Teacher Quality Enhancement Partnership Grant

APPROACHES

Parallel

Team

Station

Alternative

1 Tch 1 Obs

I Tch 1 Asst.

One Teach, One Observe• One teacher has primary

responsibility for instruction.• Allows for detailed

observation of students engaged in learning or observation of teacher instructing.

• Type of specific observational information to be gathered is decided in advance.

• Information is analyzed together.

One Teach, One Assist• One teacher has the

primary instructional responsibility.

• The other teacher circulates around the room providing help as needed.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeUa_cdaC6w&index=2&list=PLCDsTyftAA2D_buI_Rti5phLZ1DdFsAMc

Parallel Teaching

• Class is divided into heterogeneous groups.

• Both teachers teach the same subject simultaneously using the same teaching strategies.

Station Teaching• Teachers divide

instructional content and students.

• Each teacher teaches their content to one group, and then repeats the instruction with the other group.

• If students can work independently a third station can be added.

Team Teaching• Both teachers are

responsible for planning and sharing the same instruction at the same time.

• Teachers exhibit an invisible flow of instruction.

• Teaching styles are meshed.• Experienced co-teachers

state that this is the most rewarding approach to co-teaching!

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVeFjRdSH3c&list=PLCDsTyftAA2D_buI_Rti5phLZ1DdFsAMc&index=7

Alternative Teaching (Differentiated)• Two different approaches to

teaching the same information, at the same time.

• One teacher takes responsibility for large group instruction.

• The other teacher works with a small group who needs specialized instruction or extra help on skills that have already been taught.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fr-S5CGDXBQ&index=6&list=PLCDsTyftAA2D_buI_Rti5phLZ1DdFsAMc

Benefits for the Mentor Teachers

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Able to do project-based teaching more successfully

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Heightened productivity in the classroom

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Reduced burnout and improved morale

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Lowers student teacher ratio

Benefits for the Teacher Candidate

• Forming partnerships• Sharing resources• More teaching time• Increased confidence• Deeper understanding of the curriculum through

co-planning• Increased collaboration skills• Improved classroom management skills

Tips for SuccessThe picture can't be displayed.

Consider the teacher candidate (student teacher) a junior colleague.

The picture can't be displayed. Teacher candidates start at 20% involvement and increase to 90% involvement during the residency year. At times 100% also.

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Planning is paramount.

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Communicating is critical.

The picture can't be displayed. Discuss: discipline, routines, grading, pet-peeves, ways to give and receive feedback.

The picture can't be displayed. Keep the “CO” in co-teaching: Connect, Converse, Consider, Coordinate, Collaborate, Communicate, Confer, Commit