Co-Teaching

THE KEY TO CO-TEACHING STRATEGIES & TIPS

PLANNING:

  • After your initial planning when the unit is written.
  • Review each daily lesson prior to teaching. MAKE sure that both teachers thoroughly understand ALL components of the lesson information, and more importantly HOW you will disseminate the information to the students.
  • Thorough understanding of not only the curricular information but also, how it will be articulated will go a long way in making you comfortable to JUMP in and actually co-teach.

TEACHING TIPS:

  • Both teachers are responsible for teaching, but use your expertise to decide where the strengths are between the two of you. Body language and dialog between partners are the key to successful co-teaching.
  • Constantly refer to the unit’s learning outcomes. You want the students to walk away from the experience with a thorough understanding of the concept – you must use the terms everyday so the students digest the concept as it related to the various discussions and activities.
  • It is also important to reinforce the unit concept AFTER the unit is done. You do not want this to become just another activity. It has been proven that with consistent reinforcement of the concept, students will have a deep understanding of the concept. They will have the ability to make connections and see its relevance in daily activity.
  • Reflection amongst the teachers and with the students is vital. Students should articulate what they experienced, not necessarily what they learned, but how they felt during particular activities or what they remember from the day. Reflection on their actions pushes students to a higher level of thinking by meta cognition (thinking about their own thinking).