Collaborative Teaching
Methods and Benefits
One Teach, One Observe
Class is taught as a whole by one teacher, while the other teacher observes. Observer collects data related to academic, behavioral and social aspects of a select group of students, or entire class. Professionals must be sure to rotate roles, so one is not perceived as the “assistant.”
Benefits to students:
- One teacher can observe to see which students need educational support later
- No interruption during class time
- Only one teacher to focus on
Benefits to educators:
- Almost no collaboration is required when planning
- Allows the stronger teacher to deliver quality instruction in strong subject area without interruption
One Teach, One Assist
Class is taught by one teacher, while other supports students. Support given may include keeping students focused, pointing things out as the teacher lectures, answering questions, assuring that homework was properly written down, or providing visuals for what is being taught. Again, care must be taken to rotate roles so one is not perceived as an “assistant."
Benefits to students:
- Students receive individual help during a lesson as needed
- No interruption during class time
- Easier to keep students on task
Benefits to educators:
- Allows teacher who is strong in a subject to deliver instruction without interruption
- Supporting educator can address behavior not seen by the teacher directing the lesson
- Saves time when distributing materials
- Supporting teacher can observe the other teacher model good teaching practices
Station Teaching
Teachers divide content and students. Each teacher then teaches the content to one group and subsequently repeats the instruction for the other group. A third station gives students opportunity to work independently
Benefits to students:
Benefit of working in small groups, which allows for greater individualization
Fewer discipline problems occur because students are engaged in active, hands-on learning
Each student exposed to similar material, but groups can be differentiated by level
Benefits to educators:
Each teacher has a clear teaching responsibility/can independently plan
Teachers can cover more material in a shorter period of time
Maximum use of volunteers or extra adults in the room
Parallel Teaching
The class is split in two; each teacher takes a half of the class to teach the same lesson. Students all receive the same material. This requires collaborative planning and both teachers to be equally strong on materials
Benefits to students:
Splitting the class allows students to be separated who need to be
Provides smaller group, and therefore lower student/teacher ratio, and thus more individual attention
Can provide control for socially-based behavior problems between students, and allow for more supervision
Benefits to educators:
Pre-planning provides better teaching
It allows teachers to work in smaller groups
Each teacher has the comfort level of working separately to teach the same lesson
Alternative Teaching
One teacher teaches the main lesson to a larger group of students while the other teacher works with the smaller group of students on an entirely different lesson. If overused, may reduce the effectiveness of inclusion and/or reduce exposure to the general curriculum.
Benefits to students:
Provides a chance for remediation or enrichment for students who need it
Students have time to “catch up” on work
Students have time to work on skill deficiencies
Benefits to educators:
Allows for behavior control in the smaller group
Easier to keep individual students, or the entire class, on pace
Team Teaching
Both teachers plan and deliver the same instruction at the same time, each with equal responsibility for the material in the lesson. This method is also called tag team teaching. This method that is most dependent on teaching styles, mutual respect, flexibility, creativity, administrative support, and adequate planning time. It is considered the most complex, but satisfying way to co-teach.
Benefits to students:
Students view both teachers as equals
Models an excellent working relationship between adults
Promotes respect for both teachers
Students receive perspectives of both teachers on a topic
Benefits to educators:
- Allows both teachers to provide perspective on a topic and allows teaching of two strategies or ideas simultaneously
- Each teacher has an active role
- Both teachers are actively involved in classroom organization and management
- Teachers may try things in pairs that they would not try alone
The Benefits of Collaborative Teaching
Benefits for Students
- Students with disabilities still receive specialized instruction, but in the general education setting
- Students have the opportunity to be taught in an intense, individualized manner, lower teacher-student ratios
- Greater instructional intensity/differentiated instruction through small groups
- Two teachers with different tones, teaching styles, experience, and expertise
- Reduced stigma associated with pull-out programs
- Students may feel more connected with their peer group
Benefits for Teachers
- "Inclusive, community feel" to classroom
- Student improvement fosters higher levels of professional satisfaction
- More opportunities for professional growth/sharing unique knowledge bases and professional skills
- More personal conversation and moral support from colleagues in the classroom
- Increased opportunities for collaboration
- Colleagues more interested in teamwork