Co-Teaching as Best Practice in
Student Teaching
Conclusion
1
Sharing Responsibility
Plan
Teach
Cooperating
Teacher &
Teacher
Candidate
Assess
Lead
2
Sharing Planning
The Teacher Candidate and Cooperating
Teacher will share:
• What content to teach
• What co-teaching strategies to use
• Who will lead different parts of the
lesson
• How to assess student learning
• Materials and resources
3
Sharing Instruction
While Co-Teaching, the Teacher Candidate
and Cooperating Teacher will:
• Share leadership in the classroom
• Work with all students
• Use a variety of co-teaching approaches
• Be seen as equal partners
• Manage the classroom together
• Make changes as needed during a lesson
4
Sharing Assessment
Assessment
Sharing
While Co-Assessing, the Teacher Candidate
and Cooperating Teacher will:
• Both participate in the assessment of the
students
• Share the workload of daily grading
• Provide formative and summative
assessment of students
• Jointly determine grades
5
Sharing the Lead
• Contribute ideas from the very beginning
of the experience
• Engage with students assisting with their
learning from the very first day
• Be expected to take on full leadership in
all 3 areas (planning, instruction &
assessment)
• Demonstrate competencies as a teacher
• Have opportunities to teach alone
6
Co-Teaching Support
Teacher
Candidate
Cooperating
Teacher
University
Supervisor
School
Administrator
7
Cooperating Teacher
8
Cooperating Teacher
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Help the teacher candidate feel comfortable and welcome
Review school policies and procedures
Encourage teacher candidate to get involved in school activities
Share materials and ideas
Assist the candidate in developing standards based lessons
Observe and provide constructive feedback
Know and implement the co-teaching strategies
Mentor and guide the teacher candidate
Model effective teaching strategies and professional behavior.
Be flexible; allow the teacher candidate to try new ideas.
Communicate expectations
Be understanding and patient
Maintain consistency and accountability
9
School Administrator
10
School Administrator
• Help the teacher candidate feel comfortable and
welcome
• Know the co-teaching strategies
• Place the teacher candidate in a trained cooperating
teacher classroom
• Ensure common planning time for teacher candidate
and cooperating teacher(s)
• Observe and provide constructive feedback
• Support the cooperating teacher/teacher candidate
relationship
• Be flexible
• Communicate expectations
• Be understanding and patient
11
University Supervisor
12
University Supervisor
• Provide a systematic and consistent presence during the student
teaching experience.
• Provide program information to the cooperating teacher and
teacher candidate
• Observe and provide feedback on a regular basis.
• Act as a confidant for both the cooperating teacher and teacher
candidate.
• Be an advocate for the teacher candidate
• Help the team build good communication and facilitate positive
interactions
• Set clear expectations; be honest about a student’s performance
• Handle the difficult situations that might come up
• Schedule three-way conferences at the beginning and end of the
experience
• Be knowledgeable in and supportive of the use of co-teaching
strategies
13
Teacher Candidate
14
Teacher Candidate
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Come ready to learn; be enthusiastic and show initiative
Introduce yourself to team members and school personnel
Ask questions and discuss professional issues
Share ideas and work cooperatively; be flexible
Help with all classroom responsibilities…record keeping, grading
Know your content and be a continuous learner
Plan engaging, standards based lessons
Know and implement co-teaching strategies
Accept feedback and use suggestions for improvement
Be proactive in initiating communication with your triad members
Demonstrate respectful behaviors
Be reflective about your practice
Be patient with yourself and your cooperating teacher
Be a sponge; learn all you can from everyone in the building
15
Connections
Think about the roles of the cooperating
teacher, university, supervisor, and teacher
candidate. Where do you fit in?
16
Anticipation Guide
• Directions AFTER the Co-teaching Model
Presentation: Review your previous
responses, decide whether you still agree
or disagree with the statements. Provide
a brief statement of support for your
selection.
18
Wrap Up
Cooperating Teachers,, LEA
Administrators, JSU Faculty, and Teacher
Candidates will
• Demonstrate understanding to their own
role in the co-teaching project, and
• Plan for implementation of co-teaching
project.
19