Make Conscious Choices about How you Co-teach

Co-teaching works best when educators make conscious choices about how to implement the co-teaching model. Each approach has benefits and challenges that should be considered for every lesson or class period. It’s also important to consider the co-teachers’ personalities and learning styles. Co-teaching doesn’t work well when two teachers show up in a room together and ‘punt.’

Your Lesson Plan Determines Your Co-teaching Approach

One teacher, one support teacher is the most common co-teaching model; however, any one of the other models might be a better choice depending on the lesson plan, the class dynamics, available preparation time, availability of materials, etc. Some models are more appropriate for certain grade levels or subject areas, or at certain times of the year, than others.

Consider the Benefits and Challenges when Co-Planning

Choose your co-teaching model based on the goals of the lesson, class personality, behavioral dynamics, and teacher comfort levels. Consider the benefits and challenges of each model and then decide, with your co-teacher, what will work best. It is not uncommon to observe seasoned co-teachers using one model the first half of the class, another co-teaching model the second half, and a totally different co-teaching model the following day.

Co-teachers might choose approaches based on:

  • The learning needs of the students, student behavior, and the level of student motivation.
  • Teacher personality and learning style can significantly impact which approach is chosen. A teacher may prefer alternative teaching to team teaching, for example.
  • The lesson plan often dictates which approach might work best. If the lesson involves hands-on small-group work, teachers may choose station teaching or alternative teaching. If the lesson is primarily direct teaching, teachers might choose team teaching or have one teach while one supports.
  • The physical space available in the classroom may significantly impact station teaching, parallel teaching, or alternative teaching. Sometimes teachers have to be very creative in order to figure out a way to differentiate presentation styles within the physical limitations of the classroom.

From Co-Teaching and Collaboration in the Classroom: Practical Strategies for Success

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