DPM iTeam

Goals of the Co-teachers

• Sharing responsibility for planning the learning activities

• Sharing the classroom space

• Providing specialized instructional strategies/conferencing

• Increasing student achievement by maximizing opportunities

• Creating a classroom environment in which BOTH teachers are seen as equals 

Expectations: Be prepared

These are items/topics that co-teachers need to discuss before the start of the professional relationship.  Co-teachers should choose what they feel is best to focus on as a team - items that are most important for student achievement.  It is best to choose a couple to focus on at the start and gradually build to others.

• Behavior Management: Routines and Procedures to maximize academic times ~ entrance and exit routines ~ how to handle transitions ~ reinforce teacher job roles to maximize student time on task

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• Physical arrangement of the classroom: Depending on the situation, your co-teacher may only be with you for a short period of the day. Does he/she need a desk?  Do you need to have the desks/tables set for parallel teaching or station teaching as a default setup?

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• Planning: When? How? How often?  Both teachers need to partake in the planning and have an equal voice.

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• Student Needs: Do you have students in your classroom that will require special planning or time from one of the teachers? How will you integrate that student's needs into your everyday planning so all students will benefit from the co-teaching environment?

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• Instructional Strategies: Each teacher comes to a co-teaching environment with strengths and weaknesses.  Be sure to discuss with your co-teacher what you can bring to the classroom and play on each others strengths.

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• Instructional Procedures: How will you run your classroom when it comes to the day to day routines?  How will you get the students' attention?

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• Grading/Data/Assessments: Be sure to discuss with your co-teacher who will be responsible for these aspects of the classroom.  Will it be a shared responsibility?  What makes sense for your situation?

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• Communication:  Discuss how will you ensure communication between the co-teachers is seamless.  The goal of co-teaching is to create an environment for students that offers more individualized instruction, and without communication between the two leaders, this will not occur.  Similarly, who will communicate will parents?

Differentiation at it's best - a cheat sheet

To ensure that you have specially designed instruction, you and your co-teacher should be able to answer YES to each of the following questions:

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1. Is the special ed teacher or specialist teacher and the general education teacher prepared and knowledgeable about the content being taught? 

2. Is the instruction meaningful, specific, and direct - linked to curriculum standards?

3. Is the instruction intentional and specifically related to the development of skills needed for the achievement of IEP goals, other student needs and objectives of the topic?

4. Is the content, methodology, or delivery of instruction different than what is provided to the general education of peers?

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Principles that guide strong differentiation in a co-teaching environment:

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1. Respectful tasks

2. Flexible groups

3. Ongoing assessment and adjustment

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All lessons should be differentiated in one of these ways:

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1. Content - What

2. Process - How

3. Product - End Result

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Differentiation according to student needs in the co-teaching classroom:

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1. Readiness

2. Interests

3. Learning Profile