Dr. Jerry Goldberg Teachers 21 Is what we are doing good for the both of us?

1. Co-Teaching Dr. Jerry Goldberg Teachers21 Is what we are doing good for the both of us? Is what we are doing good for all of our students?

3. p2 • Think back to a colleague, a former teacher, or a workshop leader who had great success with students. • What were the attributes of this teacher? • What impact did she or he have on you? • What would you like to learn from this person that you could incorporate into your teaching?

4. p3 The Hook: Teacher Collaboration 1. Turn to page 4 and draw a line that connects point A to point B. The line must make a minimum of seven turns/bends in between point A and point B. IMPORTANT: Do not let your partner see your line!

5. 2. Decide who will be the first “teacher” and who will be the first “learner.” 3. Have the learner pick up his/her writing utensil, close his/her eyes, and keep them closed through the remainder of the activity. 4. The teacher should put his/her paper in front of the learner and place the learner’s hand on the starting point (point A). The teacher must now figure out a way to guide the learner along the correct path from point A to point B. There’s only one restriction: Once the teacher places the learner’s hand on the starting point, he/she cannot touch the learner’s hand again! The goal is to have the learner trace the exact same oath from point A to point B that the teacher did. In other words, the learner’s line and the teacher’s line should overlap. 5. When you finish, take a minute to reflect on your experience as a teacher or learner. Make some notes in the Initial Reflection Box and then share your thoughts with your partner.

6. p6 6. Change roles with your partner and repeat the task. Before you begin, collaborate amongst yourselves to determine what “Teacher 2” could do differently so as to be even more successful. Jot down some of your ideas in the Teacher Collaboration Box below. What might we want to do differently this time? And why?

7. What role did establishing and maintaining focus play in this activity? • What role did collaboration between teachers play in this activity? • What role did reflectionplay in this activity? • What role did the ability to adapt play in this activity? • How did the teacher’s practice of these four behaviors (collaboration, reflection, adaptation, and focus) influence the thoughtfulness and quality of instruction? The learner’s ability to succeed? • Make some notes to yourself on page 7

8. What did we learn from our colleagues that we can apply to co-teaching?

9. p8 5% of learners will transfer a new skill into their practice as a result of learning a theory 10% of learners will transfer a new skill into their practice as a result of learning a theory & seeing a demonstration 20% of learners will transfer a new skill into their practice as a result of theory, demonstration & practice during the training 25% of learners will transfer a new skill into their practice as a result of theory, demonstration, practice & corrective feed back during the training 90% of learners will transfer a new skill into their practice as a result of theory, demonstration, practice, feed back during training and coaching Bruce Joyce, 1987

10. p9 4 Key elements to co-teaching... 1. two or more professionals working together in a classroom 2. instruction occurs within the same physical space 3. sharing of teaching responsibilities 4. instruction is provided to a heterogeneous group of students 2 Teachers Part 1

11. Co-teaching is a service delivery model. It has gained quite a bit of attention in the United States in the last few years as they attempt to meet the legislative requirements of NCLB and IDEA. This legislation emphasizes that students will special needs should have access to the general education curriculum and be taught by highly qualified teachers. Co-teaching is a model that is based on the philosophy of inclusion. This philosophy believes that all students can learn and should be welcomed and accepted members of a learning community. It supports students with disabilities being educated along side their non-disabled peers. Co-teaching also supports collaboration among professionals, in this case between general educators and special educators. There is a great deal of literature that suggests that collaboration among professionals (i.e.., learning communities) has significant potential for improving student outcomes. In fact, Friend and Pope say… “Educators must pull together by sharing their work through collaboration; too much knowledge and too many skills are needed for any single professional to keep up with and master all of them.” 2 Teachers - Part 2

13. At your table, brainstorm the benefits of co-teaching. Appoint a recorder to capture your thoughts. We will return to these lists later.

15. The Ins and Outs of Co-Teaching

16. Definitions

17. Although it is generally preferred that co-teaching be collaborative, it might or might not be. Collaboration generally refers to how individuals interact, not the activity they’re doing. Thus, any activity—including co-teaching, problem solving, and consultation--may or may not be collaborative.

18. Collaboration an ongoing process whereby professionals with different expertise voluntarily work together to create solutions to problems that are impeding student’s success, as well as to carefully monitor and refine those solutions. Collaboration is enhanced by trust, respect, openness, and clear communication among the participants. Collaboration is a process rather than a specific service delivery model. - Knackendoffel

19. Although co-teaching is integral to the inclusive practices in many schools, it is not a requirement for inclusion to occur. Inclusion refers to a broad belief system or philosophy embracing the notion that all students should be welcomed members of a learning community, that all students are part of their classrooms even if their abilities differ.

20. The term team teaching is often used to describe the situation in which two general education teachers combine classes and share instruction. In an elementary school, this might occur when two fourth grade teachers decide to open the portable that divides their rooms and teach the entire group as one. In a secondary school, this might occur when an English teacher anda history teacher combine two classes to present an American studies course. Co-teaching is different from this type of team teaching in two important ways: First, in co-teaching the teacher-student ratio is drastically improved. Second, in co-teaching, two significantly different orientations toward teaching are blended. Finally, team teaching in the middle school literature often refers to a process for planning interdisciplinary instruction, but not sharing instructional delivery.

21. Mainstreaming refers to the practice of educating students with special needs in regular classes during specific time periods based on their skill. This means regular educationclasses are combined with special education classes. Schools that practice mainstreaming believe that special needs students who cannot function in a regular classroom to a certain extent “belong” to the special education environment.

22. Job Sharing is an employment arrangement where two people are retained on a part-time or reduced basis to fulfill the job normally performed by one person. Collaboration is implicit in the performance of the job to ensure that there is continuity in the classroom.

23. Co-teaching That’s our job today – define co-teaching as it fits our needs.

24. Co-teaching is a proactive approach to education. Co-teaching pairs general and special educators. Co-teaching takes place in heterogeneous, integrated settings. Co-teachers are simultaneously present in the classroom setting. Co-teachers maintain joint responsibility for classroom instruction. Co-teachers work in a coactive and coordinated fashion. Co-teachers design instruction to meet the needs of all students in the class.

25. What do you see when we see co-teaching in action? Nissittissit

26. Preparing to co-teach • The role of the principal • The roles of the co-teachers • Images of co-teaching • Planning • Instructing • Assessing • Troubleshooting

27. Belief in a collaborative school culture • Commitment to inclusive practices • Understanding of co-teaching • Visible reminders • Assigning partners • Observing implementation • Professional development • Problem solving when dilemmas occur • Communicating beyond the school • Letters to parents

28. Co-teaching is a service delivery mechanism. • Two or more professionals with equivalent licensure and employment status are the participants in co-teaching. • Co-teachers share instructional responsibility and accountability for a single group of students for whom they both have ownership. • Co-teaching occurs primarily in a shared classroom or workspace. • Co-teachers’ specific level of participation may vary based on their skills and the instructional needs of the student group.

29. Co-Teaching is not: • One teacher—typically the general educator—acting as the main teacher with the special educator in the role of “helper.” • The special educator only working with the students with disabilities. • The general educator only working with the students without disabilities. • Two teachers who take alternating turns teaching their students. • Solely a way to help the students with disabilities. • Planned at the last minute or improvised.

31. As you think about yourself as a co-teacher, complete the chart on page 24. You can use this a guideline as you prepare for the co-teaching role.

32. JIGSAW

33. One instructs, one observes and collects data • Roles should not be static • Teachers should create systematic method for taking down observations

34. Cautions Benefits • One of the advantages in co-teaching is that more detailed observation of students engaged in the learning process can occur. With this approach, for example, co-teachers can decide in advance what types of specific observational information to gather during instruction and can agree on a system for gathering the data. Afterward, the teachers should analyze the information together. 

35. Divide and concur • Students rotate around stations • Teachers offer support to all students

36. Cautions Benefits

37. Joint planning • Split the class into two heterogeneous groups • Diversity in both groups

38. Cautions Benefits

39. Small group of students receives separate instruction • Teachers’ roles should not be static • Small group membership and composition should be fluid

40. Cautions Benefits

41. Both teachers are responsible for planning and share in the instruction of all students

42. Cautions Benefits

43. one teacher teaches while the other supports in instructional process

44. Cautions Benefits

45. Video • models in action

46. Co-teaching Benefits • Lower teacher – student ratio • Classroom of diverse learners • Teachers can respond effectively to varied needs of students • Another professional can provide different viewpoints and more ideas for instruction • Teachers can be motivational for one another • Co-teaching can positively affect the general educator’s instructional behavior

47. Barriers/Cautions • Lack of administrative support • Lack of shared planning time • Need for in-service training • Personality matches – the relationship between co-teachers is critical to success • Misguided perceptions and/or lack of communication • Poorly defined roles / unclear expectations • Dividing the class based on SPED and non-SPED students

48. “Virtually every treatise on inclusive practices…concludes that inclusion’s success, in large part, relies on collaboration among staff members and with parents and others, and that failures can typically be traced to shortcomings in the collaborative dimension of the services to students.” Friend, 2000

49. Let’s Practice... Writing a Persuasive Essay • Lesson Objective: • Write an interesting lead • take a position • provide examples and details to support your position • Write detailed counterarguments • Write effective conclusions • Choose one of the six models of co-teaching that you will put into practice. • Tell what it would look like in the classroom if you were to be teaching students to Write a Persuasive Essay

50. Topic: • Your principal suddenly bans the selling of chocolate milk in the cafeteria because he/she thinks it is not healthy. • The students revolt! • Write a persuasive essay to convince the principal that he/she is right or wrong in this decision.