Flexibility is a Successful Co-teaching Strategy!
Flexibility as a Co-teaching Strategy
Here’s a great way for making co-teaching a benefit rather than a hassle for teachers: Be flexible.
I know you’re all looking at that line and saying to yourselves, “Well of course I’m flexible; I fully intend to be.” However, I’m not talking about your own personality, though that is important too. I’m talking about what you plan together in the classroom. In essence, if you and your co-teacher can come up with some kind of a flexible plan that would meet the requirements of kids with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and, at the same time, meet the requirements of the all students, you and your co-teacher will have an easier time successfully making it happen in your classroom.
Planning Time is the Key to Success when Implementing a Co-teaching Strategy
Of course, this does require some planning on both of your parts, but even just snatching a few minutes during prep time or your lunch break can work wonders. You could also exchange phone numbers and e-mail so you can work together on projects. For the more technologically advanced, consider signing up for Google Hangouts, or using Google Drive where you can actually collaborate on lesson plans together, in real time or whenever each of you has the time to get online can be hugely successful.
A Stealth Co-Teaching Strategy: The Secret Signal
In the classroom, have a signal planned between the two of you so that, if you need to switch things midstream, the kids won’t feel confused as to who is teaching the lesson.
The bottom line is, flexibility will help everything else to fall into place in the co-taught classroom.
For more information, check out Susan’s book Co-teaching and Collaboration in the Classroom.
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