Team Teaching
What is Team Teaching?
Team teaching is a method used in collaborative classrooms where both teachers have an equal role in planning and instructing a classroom lesson.
Instruction
- While one teacher is explaining an idea the other teacher is modeling the work on the board
- While one teacher is instructing the other teacher should anticipate challenging concepts and asking the teacher questions so she can clarify or retell the questions students may have
- One teacher can instruct on one idea and the other teacher can follow and teach one another idea — this allows for multiple strategies to be shared
Assessment
- Create the assessment together because they contribute equally
- Formative assessment during lessons, group work, and individual work
- Collaboration to ensure assessment is appropriate with student's IEPs
Classroom Management
- Both teachers are involved in developing the classroom rules, routines, and expectations
- The special education teacher helps the general education teacher understand the needs of students with special needs
- Both teachers are providing rewards, praise, and reinforcers
Planning
- In order for team teaching to be successful both teachers are committed to planning every aspect of their classroom
- Mutual planning and sharing of ideas for instruction, assessment, and classroom management
Pros to Team Teaching
- Communication between the two teachers models a respectful working relationship
- Allows both teacher to provide prospective on a topic
- Struggling students have the supports to be successful in the grade-level curriculum
- Can allow teaching of two strategies simultaneously