collaborative teaming
DESCRIPTION
coTRANSCRIPT
2009 Inclusion Facilitator Network
Together We’re Better: Collaborative Teaming
Outcomes Identify three approaches to collaborative teaming Engage in goal setting with your teaching partner Name 5 grouping structures associated with co-
teaching Self-assess the status of your collaborative
relationship Develop a plan for enhancing your co-teaching
relationship
Where to Begin
Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.
-Henry Ford
Change…
Change is:◦Risky◦Scary◦Anxiety provoking
But it can also be:◦Rewarding◦Fun◦Well worth the
effort
What is Collaboration?
•Shared responsibility
•Reciprocity of ideas
•Interactive communication
•Problem-solving
•Conflict resolution
Collaboration Won’t Just Happen
DeliberateStructuredSystematicOngoing
Steele, Bell, & George, 2005
Why Won’t it Just Happen?
Some possibilities:• Little understanding of curriculum,
instruction, and assessment between general and special educators
• Collaboration does not occur without a student-driven reason and a deliberate structure with resources
Why Won’t it Just Happen? General educators begin with the
curriculum first and use assessment to determine what was learned
Special educators begin with assessment first and design instruction to repair gaps in learning
No wonder we are talking different languages
Steele, Bell, & George, 2005
How Do We Collaborate?
Consultation Coaching Co-teaching
Write-Pair-Share
List circumstances where a Consultation and Coaching approach may be more appropriate than a Co-teaching model
Importance of Pre-Planning
Collaboration requires thoughtful planning time Administrative support is essential Here is where the alignment of special and
general education occurs Make this time as focused as possible Take turns taking the lead in planning and
facilitating
Murawski & Dieker, 2004; Dieker, 2002
What is Co-teaching?
Both teachers take part in
1. planning
2. teaching
3. evaluating students ’ performance
Co-Teaching is two or more professionals delivering substantive instruction to a diverse or blended group of students in a single space.
Friend & Cook, (1995). Co-Teaching: Guidelines for creating effective practices. Focus on Exceptional Children
Establishing a co-teaching relationship
Getting to Know Each Other Ease into working with one another Deal with the “little” things first These can become the
deal-breakers down the road, and preventing these road blocks earlycan make life easier
Sharing Hopes, Attitudes, Responsibilities, and Expectations
1. My hopes for this co-teaching relationship are:
2. My attitude/philosophy regarding teaching students with disabilities in a general education classroom is:
3. I would like to have the following responsibilities in a co-taught classroom:
4. I would like my co-teacher to have the following responsibilities:
Time to
Getting to Know Each Other Consider completing a teaching style inventory◦ Compare how each of you prefers to structure assignments,
lessons,classroom schedule, etc.
Online◦ http://www.longleaf.net/teachingstyle.html◦ Free◦ Take and score it immediately◦Useful tool for dialogue about instructional philosophy and
style
Finding time to plan
Planning for Instruction
Co-Planning Time Guidelines
Co-teaching teams should have a minimum of one planning period (45–60 minutes) per week
Experienced teams should spend10 minutes to plan each lesson
Dieker, 2001
Weekly Co-Planning Make the weekly planning time
sacred and non-negotiable Each teacher should review
content in advance of meeting Maximize the time: stay focused
Weekly Co-Planning Guide the session with the following
fundamental questions:◦What are the content goals?◦Who are the learners and what are their unique
needs?◦How can we teach most effectively?
Weekly Co-Planning
Establish timelines and priorities Assign preparation tasks to both individuals equitably
◦ Lesson materials◦ Student accommodations/modifications
Determine how plans will be shared with paraeducators or other support staff as needed
Adapted from Walther-Thomas, Bryant, & Land, 1996
What does it look like? Supportive Teaching
Parallel Teaching
Complementary Teaching
Station Teaching
Team Teaching
Supportive Teaching“One Teach, One Support”
Whole group instruction or guided practice; one teacher instructs while the other “floats” assisting individuals
Benefits Extra attention for kids Requires less preparation Good place to start, esp. if
one teacher is learning curriculum
Drawbacks Doesn’t maximize
professional skills of both teachers
“Support” person may feel less valued
Research doesn’t support effectiveness
Parallel Teaching“Two groups, same content”
Class split in two heterogeneous groups, each teacher teaches one group. Both groups cover the same material
Benefits More opportunities for
interaction and practice Can differentiate
presentation Both teachers actively
involved
Drawbacks Can be noisy Both teachers must be
comfortable with content Kids may have “unequal”
experiences Requires planning for
pacing
Complementary Teaching“Two groups, different content”
Class split in two groups, each teacher teaches one group. Groups do different activities.
Benefits Smaller groups – more
interaction and practice Both teachers actively
teaching Differentiation of
instruction Allows for re-teaching,
enrichment, etc.
Drawbacks Can be noisy Can lead to
“resegregation” by ability Requires careful planning
of groupings, pacing, etc.
Station Teaching“Two (or more groups), rotate”
Class is divided into groups which move among different activities. Each student participates in all activities
Benefits Opportunities for more
interaction, hands-on activities
Movement, variety, application promote learning and retention
Can create more, smaller groups by adding “independent” station
Drawbacks Can be noisy/busy Teachers can focus on a
smaller piece of content Groups need to be
designed carefully Activities needed to be
planned for pacing, etc.
Team Teaching“Both Teach”
Both professionals take an active role in teaching during whole group instruction, guided practice, etc.
Benefits Kids benefit from
“content” and “strategy” expertise
Teachers clarify, model, etc.
Both teachers actively involved
Drawbacks Requires extensive
planning and trust Doesn’t provide smaller
group interaction
So, Which Way is Best?
It depends! For example – Supportive teaching as a first step Parallel teaching to practice a new skill Complementary teaching for enrichment Stations for end-of-unit review Team teaching for start of lesson then move to
stations
Work Smarter Not Harder: A tip from the classroom•General education gives/emails plans in advance•Collaborative planning time is focused on differentiation and discussing individual student modifications as needed•Special educator prepares modifications as needed
Three Stages of Co-Teaching Relationships
BeginningCompromisingCollaborative
Gately, 2005
Beginning
Familiarity w/ Curriculum
Curric Goals & Modifications
Instructional Presentation
-SE unfamiliar with content/methodology
-GE limited understanding of modifying curriculum
-Unfamiliarity creates a lack of confidence in both teachers
-Modifications and accommodations are generally restricted to those identified in the IEP; little interaction regarding modifications to the curriculum
-Special educator’s role is seen as “helper”
-Teachers often present separate lessons
-One teacher is “boss”; one is “helper”
Compromising
-SE develops a solid understanding of the content of the curriculum
-SE gains confidence to make suggestions for modifications and accommodations
-General educator may view modifications as “giving up” or “watering down” the curriculum
-Both teachers direct some of the activities in the classroom
-Special educator offers mini-lessons or clarifies strategies that students may use
Collaborative
-GE becomes more willing to modify the curriculum, increased sharing in planning & teaching
-Both appreciate the specific curriculum competencies that they bring to the content area
-Both begin to differentiate concepts that all must know from concepts that most should know
-Modifications of content, activities, homework, and tests become the norm for students who require them
-Both participate in the presentation of the lesson
-The “chalk” passes freely
-Students address questions and discuss concerns with both teachers
Gately & Gately, 2001
Self-assessment Where is your co-
teaching relationship along each domain?
What steps can you take to get to the collaboration stage?