This semester, I am fortunate enough to be co-teaching one hour of English 7 with an ELL teacher. This is my first experience with co-teaching. Do any of you co-teach and have advice/suggestions to share?
I am fortunate enought to co-teach with an ELL teacher this year too! my two pieces of advice that I think has made my experience so valuable is having my co-teacher included inthe classroom as if she were teaching with me full-time and taking time to plan with my co-teacher.
From day one my co-teacher was introduced as the student's teacher. Her name is up in the room, she has a section on my website, and she comes to parent-teacher conferences. We are in communication costantly about our students' behavior, academics, upcoming events, etc. She was with us in the beginning of the year to help create rules, she communicates with parents just as much as I do, and she and I are consistant with our classroom management. We take time a few times a month to plan units, reflect on past lessons, and share student concerns and issues.
Co-teaching can be extra work, but I feel like it is worth the time put into it because I have learned so much from this teacher, and we are a team when it comes to advocating for our students.
I know I should be giving you advice about what to specifically do in the classroom with your co-teacher, but I think all of that comes second to having a relationship with your co-teacher. I think it is important to really like your co-teacher. I would for sure hang out with them outside of school; grab coffee, go out for dinner. The more you get to know each other the more comfortable and easy co-teaching will be. I hate to use the "friends" word because I know that it is a professional relationship, but to be honest my co-teacher, and I have become friends and it has made a world of difference.
I feel lucky to say that my co-teacher is also now a good friend. We have established a good relationship that I feel like I can suggest anything or give feedback because we are comfortable around each other. I also think our students pick up on this and can see how natural we are around each other. They see that we like each other, and that we both want to be teachers in the classroom together. A close relationship makes things like parallel teaching, transitioning, etc. less awkward because we know each other styles.
Because we have become friends we can also pick up on when teahcer is off. She also can tell when I am having a bad day and can pick up where I am lacking. When I know she is going through something in her personal life, I can help out more in other areas too.
I am fortunate enought to co-teach with an ELL teacher this year too! my two pieces of advice that I think has made my experience so valuable is having my co-teacher included inthe classroom as if she were teaching with me full-time and taking time to plan with my co-teacher.
ReplyDeleteFrom day one my co-teacher was introduced as the student's teacher. Her name is up in the room, she has a section on my website, and she comes to parent-teacher conferences. We are in communication costantly about our students' behavior, academics, upcoming events, etc. She was with us in the beginning of the year to help create rules, she communicates with parents just as much as I do, and she and I are consistant with our classroom management. We take time a few times a month to plan units, reflect on past lessons, and share student concerns and issues.
Co-teaching can be extra work, but I feel like it is worth the time put into it because I have learned so much from this teacher, and we are a team when it comes to advocating for our students.
I know I should be giving you advice about what to specifically do in the classroom with your co-teacher, but I think all of that comes second to having a relationship with your co-teacher. I think it is important to really like your co-teacher. I would for sure hang out with them outside of school; grab coffee, go out for dinner. The more you get to know each other the more comfortable and easy co-teaching will be. I hate to use the "friends" word because I know that it is a professional relationship, but to be honest my co-teacher, and I have become friends and it has made a world of difference.
ReplyDeleteI feel lucky to say that my co-teacher is also now a good friend. We have established a good relationship that I feel like I can suggest anything or give feedback because we are comfortable around each other. I also think our students pick up on this and can see how natural we are around each other. They see that we like each other, and that we both want to be teachers in the classroom together. A close relationship makes things like parallel teaching, transitioning, etc. less awkward because we know each other styles.
Because we have become friends we can also pick up on when teahcer is off. She also can tell when I am having a bad day and can pick up where I am lacking. When I know she is going through something in her personal life, I can help out more in other areas too.