Co-teaching: Teamwork to Support All Learners Kristall Day & Katelyn Fishley Diocese Academy June 20, 2018

Welcome Who is here? How many general education or content area teachers? Intervention specialists? Elementary? Middle? High school? How many of you co-teach? Who do you co-teach with?

Objectives Define co-teaching Discuss strategies and tools for nurturing an effective co-teaching relationship Identify examples of co-teaching arrangements Discuss advantages and disadvantages for each arrangement

Rationale for Co-teaching 10 variables & impact student achievement: clarity enthusiasm variety task-oriented behaviors content covered student ideas during discussion criticism (negative correlation) structuring comments variety questions probing questions (Rosenshine and Furst, 1971)

co-teaching is one way to address these! Rationale Narrowed Rosenshine (1979) narrowed this list to the 2 MOST impactful variables: content covered academically engaged minutes Effective co-teaching is one way to address these!

Current Literature on Co-teaching Increase of standardized test scores for Sw/D (Hang & Rabren, 2009) Accelerated rate of achievement and access to general education (Walsh, 2012) No negative impact of inclusive practices for student groups (Dessemontet & Bless, 2013) Decrease in achievement gap for students with EAL designation (Pardini, 2006)

Co-teaching Defined Critical Elements of the Definition: Two or more professionals with different primary areas of expertise Joint planning, delivery, and assessment of instruction Emphasis on meeting the needs of diverse learners

But….. We know that asking people to work together isn’t always easy! Different philosophies, training Personality clashes Lack of time Territory battles Miscommunication

How do we get here as quickly as possible? Stages of Co-teaching Beginning Guarded, careful communication Compromising Give & take Collaborating Open communication, mutual respect How do we get here as quickly as possible? Gately & Gately 2001

Effective Co-teaching Includes.. Shared vision & expectations Structure Time Supportive and Positive Communication!!!!

Tools for: Shared vision and expectations

Discussion: Review the assessments. How can these be helpful? New to Co-teaching? Tools to get to know yourself and your co-teaching partner: S.H.A.R.E. Questions to identify individual preferences Preliminary Discussion Questions Philosophies, routines, expectations Teaching Style Inventory Defining Critical Behaviors Discussion: Review the assessments. How can these be helpful?

Already Co-teaching? Co-teaching Rating Scale Self-assessment capturing components Starting point for discussion Target area(s) for improvement Create a plan Implement plan Evaluate progress/ plan

Components of Co-teaching Interpersonal communication Physical arrangement Familiarity with the curriculum Curriculum goals and modifications Instructional planning Instructional presentation Classroom management Assessment Gately & Gately 2001

Ratings scales include a version for supervisor, general education teacher, and special education teacher. How can these be used? Gately & Gately 2001

Tools for: Structure

Co-planning and Assessment Content Big ideas/ standards? Common misconceptions? Minimum level of mastery? Student needs Adaptations? Accommodations? Modifications? Differentiation? Lesson plans Learning goal Activities Assessment Co-teaching structure/ arrangement

Templates for Planning and Assessment Curriculum snapshots Individual Student Needs Summary Weekly planner Co-teaching structure planner Daily lesson plan template

Discussion: Disadvantages? Co-teaching Arrangements One Teaching, One Observing (Assisting) One teacher has the primary responsibility for planning and teaching Other teacher helps students or records data Some advantages of this approach are: Individual help Keeps students on task Saves time when distributing materials Can observe behavior Supporting can observe good teaching practices Discussion: Disadvantages?

Co-teaching Arrangements One Teaching, One Observing (Assisting) Some disadvantages of this approach are: One teacher has more control than the other One teacher is viewed as the teacher’s aide May be distracting to some students Students begin to expect immediate one-on-one assistance Discussion: Have you encountered any of these challenges? How can you overcome these challenges?

Co-teaching Arrangements Parallel Teaching Teachers plan jointly but split the classroom in half to teach the same information at the same time. Some advantages of this approach are: Preplanning provides better teaching Smaller groups Implementation of grouping strategies Some disadvantages of this approach are: Both teachers need to be competent in the content Pacing must be the same Must be enough space in the classroom Can be noisy

Co-teaching Arrangements Alternative Teaching One teacher manages most of the class while the other teacher works with a small group inside or outside of the classroom. Some advantages of this approach are: Helps meet the personal needs of students Both teachers can remain in the classroom Some disadvantages of this approach are: Stigma Students may view one teacher as having more authority Noise level must be controlled There must be adequate space

Co-teaching Arrangements Station Teaching The classroom is divided into various teaching centers Some advantages of this approach are:  Teachers have clear responsibilities Small groups Cover more material in a shorter period of time Fewer discipline problems Grouping strategies Maximizes the use of volunteers or extra adults in the room Some disadvantages of this approach are: Requires a lot of preplanning All materials must be prepared and organized in advance Noise at maximum level Pacing One or more groups must work independently

Co-teaching Arrangements Team Teaching Both teachers are responsible for planning, and they share the instruction of all students. Some advantages of this approach are: Each teacher has an active role Students view both teachers as having equal status Both teachers are involved in classroom organization and management Teachers may try things in pairs that they wouldn’t try alone “Two heads are better than one” Some disadvantages of this approach are: Preplanning takes a considerable amount of time Teachers’ roles need to be clearly defined for shared responsibility

Example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCn4qDyuZVE

Tools for: Time

Ongoing Communication Common planning Consistent meeting time Use of technology Dropbox, Google Drive, Slack, etc. Consistent formats for documents Advocate for time Discussion: Other ideas?

Maximize Time Take time to have discussions to get to know each other Create a plan Implement the plan & collect data Evaluate the plan Make changes as needed Celebrate successes

Monitor Progress Tracking Our Progress through the 3 Stages Co-planning, Co-teaching, Co-managing, Co-assessing Action Plan Discussion: Start small! Don’t tackle everything at once! What would be your priority?

Recommended Resources https://www3.bucksiu.org/cms/lib/PA09000729/Centricity/Domain/64/AllHandouts%20Coteaching.pdf https://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Special-Education-Services/Documents/Co-Teaching%20Modules/Module%201/04%20Co-Teaching%20Workbook_Action_Plan_CESA_SI.pdf

Contact Kristall Day – dayk@ohiodominican.edu Katelyn Fishley– fishleyk@ohiodominican.edu