Co-Teaching Strategies
Using One Teach, One Observe, one teacher has primary instructional responsibility while the other gathers specific observational data on students or the (instructing) teacher. The key to this strategy is to focus observation on one or a few aspects that are important.
One Teach, One Assist is an extension of the above. One teacher has primary instructional responsibility while the other assists students with their work, monitors behaviors, or answers questions, often lending a voice to students or groups who would hesitate to participate or add comments.
For Station Teaching, the co-teaching pair divides the instructional content into stations. Each teacher instructs at one of the stations. Groups then rotate or spend a designated amount of time at each station. This is often used in conjunction with one or more independent-work stations along with these teacher-led stations.
During Parallel Teaching, each teacher instructs half the students. The two teachers are addressing the same instructional material, using the same teaching strategies. The greatest benefit of this approach is the reduction of student-to-teacher ratio.
This strategy allows one teacher to work with students at their expected grade level while the other teacher works with those students who need re-teaching, extension, or remediation. This could be done with individual or small groups of students.
Alternative/Differentiated Teaching
Alternative Teaching provides two different approaches to the same material. The class is divided into two groups, and each teacher focuses on the same learning outcome but utilizes a different approach or strategy. This allows for different learning styles or needs to be met while maintaining the same curricular goals.
Well-planned team-taught lessons exhibit an invisible flow of instruction with no prescribed division of authority. Using a team teaching strategy, both teachers are actively involved in the lesson. From students’ perspective, there is not clearly defined leader, as both teachers share the instruction, are free to interject information, and are available to assist students and answer questions.
Co-Teaching Strategy Descriptions • Additional Co-Teaching Strategies
