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 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 5. Team Teaching

6 Types of Co-Teaching 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. One Teaching, One Observing

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? 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 Cons Roles may not be clearly defined May involve extra planning Conflicts with personality or teaching style 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), Murawski, W. & Dieker, L. (2004). Tips and Strategies for Co- Teaching at the Secondary Level. Teaching Exceptional Children, 36(5), Wunder, M. & Lindsey, C. (2004). The Ins, Outs of Co- Teaching. Innovations, April 2004.