Cooperative Teaching

Cooperative Teaching The Potential to Benefit All Casey M. Barnes Professor, Kyung Hee University EPIK/GEPIK Teacher Trainer KOTESOL Presenter

Who am I? • Korean Middle School – 05-07 • English Education/ESOL MAT • American High School • Korean High School • Kyung Hee University • 3 years as an EPIK/GEPIK trainer • But… This is my first time doing the co-teaching session…

Why Co-teaching? • Try to build a classroom on the strengths of two adults/cultures • Help Korean Teachers improve their language skills – eventually phase out NETs? • Safety – • Improve student motivation -

Classroom Priorities • What are the three things you want to see everyday in your classroom? • What does this imply about your expectations of your and your co-teacher’s roles? • What do you think your co-teacher would write in these spaces?

Educational Philosophy • Might help to better understand conflicts • Things to consider: Why have teachers at all? Why learn English? Why have schools? Why are we in classrooms? What do you hope to achieve? What do you want your students to achieve?

In an ideal world… • What is your vision of an ideal NET/GET relationship? • What does is look like before/during/after class lessons?

Co-teaching models: • One Teaching – one monitoring/observing • Station teaching – • Parallel teaching – • Alternative teaching – • Team/Tag team teaching -

What do we need to understand about our co-teachers? • Probably got information just before they told you. • Very busy (?) • Might consider us a burden (?) • Might have a very different work ethic (?) • Have probably worked very, very hard to get to the position they are in (might not consider us as “professional” as they consider themselves.)

The three things that really helped my co-teaching relationships: • Routine lessons – • Routine classroom language – • Teaching kids to self-monitor – teams were responsible for making their team was on task

What has helped you?

Tips: • Use “I statements…” and “we statements…” – try to avoid “you statements…” • Present your lesson plan when there is no one else around your co-t. - Figure out when this is • Use the end of the day to your advantage • Display the class agenda and check things off as you go

Tips: • Remember that there is a wide-range of takes on this: “student” to “supervisor” and everything between • An absent KET may just feel confident in your ability – might not realize the potential dangers • Expect to have more of a role the first times your run a lesson – Your co-t might want to observe more and step in more later • Script your co-teachers role if you need to!

Quotes from GET’s around the country • “Adaptability is the key to success.” Laura Whang, Pohang Hangdo Elementary school • “Adaptability and diplomacy.” ~ James Young • “Open communication, flexibility, and patience are vital to a wonderful working relationship.” ~ Jennifer Wang • “There’s more than one way to ‘co-teach.’” ~ Les Timmermans, Gangwon Province • “Just because it happened yesterday, does not mean it will happen today.” ~ Jake M. Masin, Jeongseon-do, multiple schools • “When I have a difficult class or more involved activity, working to teach as an active team can make all difference in the success of the lesson.” ~ Dustin Webster, Seoul, Elementary school.

Casey Barnes • Email: caseyengteacher@yahoo.com • FaceBook: Casey Barnes • Useful Info: caseyengteacher.wordpress.com

Cooperative Teaching