Who uses a timer in their classroom for lessons? I know that some are not big fans of using a timer for any reason, while others find (and research bears this out) that a timer can be one of the most useful teaching strategies to help motivate students.
I walked into an eighth-grade language arts classroom to find two co-teachers and 28 students absolutely focused on the lesson. The desks and chairs had been arranged into two sections, creating a makeshift conference table. On the other side of the room, the same arrangement was repeated, implementing a dynamic and effective co-teaching model.
Giving students a choice of whether to take a written test or have it read out to them may improve their performance, make them feel more included in the class, and even empower them. This teaching strategy is especially effective with students on an IEP, who can sometimes feel they’re not fully part of an integrated classroom.
Want to take your co-teaching up another level? Try using the “one teach and one interpret” co-teaching model.
In co-teaching, the “one teach, one support” co-teaching model is pretty familiar. Yet, the same teacher tends to take on one of those roles permanently, while the other teacher takes the other role. Often, the subject matter expert or general education teacher handles “one teach” while the support teacher who is working with the students who are on an IEP handles “one support.”