Co-teaching & Collaboration

Co-teaching & Collaboration Mike Belfiglio Joe Clawson Tara Dudich Doug Muller Marnie Rotter Lyn Steeger

What is co-teaching? • Two or more educators providing instructions to students with varying abilities in the same physical area

What is collaboration? • The manner in which individuals work together to achieve a common goal What are the components of collaboration? • equality • voluntary • shared decision making • common goal

Why Co-Teach? • Meets educational needs of students with diverse needs • Results in direct instructional and social benefits for students • Provides another set of hands and eyes and lowers student-teacher ratio • Expands professional expertise that can be directed to student needs

3 Stages of Co-Teaching • 1. Beginning Stage • Guided, careful communication • 2. Compromising Stage • Give and take communication, with a sense of having to “give up” to “get” • 3. Collaborating Stage • Open communication and interaction, mutual admiration

Personal Experiences with Co-Teaching???

6 Types of Co-Teaching • 1. One Teaching, One Assisting • One teacher has primary responsibility for designing and delivering specific instruction to the entire group. • The second teacher supports the lead teacher either by observing designated students or by “drifting” through the classroom providing assistance to the students as needed

6 Types of Co-Teaching • 2. Station Teaching • Class is divided into stations • Co-teachers divide the instructional content and each takes responsibility for teaching part of it • Students benefit from lower student-teacher ratio • Students with disabilities may be integrated rather than singled out

6 Types of Co-Teaching • 3. Parallel Teaching • Teachers jointly plan instruction but each delivers it to a heterogeneous group comprised of half the students • Teachers must coordinate efforts so that both groups receive the same instruction and are grouped to maintain diversity

6 Types of Co-Teaching • 4. Alternative Teaching • One teacher works with a small group to pre-teach or re-teach material that needs extra support • Second teacher works with the larger group on content the smaller group can afford to miss • Can also be used for enrichment for a group that has already mastered what the larger group is working on

6 Types of Co-Teaching • 5. Team Teaching • Both teachers are responsible for planning and sharing instruction of all students • Teachers may role play, debate, simulate, and model • Requires that co-teachers are able to mesh their teaching styles

6 Types of Co-Teaching • 6. One Teaching, One Observing • One teaches the whole class • Second teacher observes to collect data on a single student, a group of students, or whole class for behaviors that both professionals have previously agreed to observe • Good for Functional Behavior Assessments or for Child Study Teams

6 Types of Co-Teaching • 1. One Teaching, One Assisting • 2. Station Teaching • 3. Parallel Teaching • 4. Alternative Teaching • 5. Team Teaching • 6. One Teaching, One Observing

What are the pros & cons of Co-Teaching? Cons • Roles may not be clearly defined • May involve extra planning • Conflicts with personality or teaching style Pros • Extra in-class support • Differentiated instruction • Inclusion of all students • Varied teaching methods hold student interest • More individualized attention for students • More focus on student needs Can you think of any more????

Which Co-Teaching model(s) do Professor Daley and Dr. Petroff use in our class?

References Friend, M. & Cook, L. (1996). Interactions: Collaboration Skills for School Professionals. White Plains, NY: Longman Publishers. Gately, S. & Gately, F. (2001). Understanding Co-teaching Components. Teaching Exceptional Children, 33(4), 40-47. Murawski, W. & Dieker, L. (2004). Tips and Strategies for Co-Teaching at the Secondary Level. Teaching Exceptional Children, 36(5), 52-58. Wunder, M. & Lindsey, C. (2004). The Ins, Outs of Co-Teaching. Innovations, April 2004.

Co-teaching & Collaboration