Collaboration and Effective Instructional Delivery in the Co-Taught Classroom
Co-Teaching: A Professional Marriage
From Dating to the Silver Anniversary
Presented by
Nancy Lopez
Overall Topic Description: This is a three part in-service project that will provide co-teaching
partners an opportunity to review elements of effective co-teaching, to utilize strategies to
improve the collaborative process, and to identify, implement, and evaluate effective
instructional delivery methods. Participants will have an opportunity to collaborate, reflect,
problem solve, and celebrate.
Professional Development Objectives:
1. Develop strategies to promote effective collaboration with your co-teaching partner
2. Identify barriers that impede effective co-teaching, and determine ways to address those
barriers
3. Identify and implement effective instructional delivery methods to address the needs of
all learners in the co-taught classroom
4. Evaluate effective instructional delivery methods to address the needs of all learners in
the co-taught classroom
5. Determine future professional development co-teaching needs
Table of Contents
Session I – Promoting Collaboration and a Professional Relationship
Description of Session: A framework for co-teaching will be introduced and discussed. Coteachers will utilize reflection, collaborative problem solving, and effective communication skills
to identify roles and responsibilities of each co-teacher, and to develop a collaborative classroom
environment. Challenges inherent to co-teaching will be identified, and strategies to address
those challenges will be discussed and practiced.
Objectives:

Develop strategies to promote effective collaboration with your co-teaching partner

Identify barriers that impede effective co-teaching, and determine ways to address those
barriers
Objective Outcome Assessment: Exit Slip
Agenda

Legislative Impact on Co-Teaching

Importance of Administrative Support

Knowing Yourself as a Person, a Learner, and a Teacher (Who Were You? and Who Are
You Now?)

Establishing a Collaborative Environment with Your Co-Teacher – Topics that CoTeachers Need to Discuss

Roles and Responsibilities of Co-Teachers

Challenges in Co-Teaching and Ways to Address Those Challenges
Materials
Descriptions
Explanations of
Applications
Teachers reflect on who
As a teacher, it’s important
“Who Were You?”
they were as students, and
to recognize who you were
 Activity
share these reflections.
as a learner in order to
analyze your current
teaching philosophy and
ways of teaching.
Co-Teachers have an
Teachers must be aware of
“Who Are You Now?”
opportunity to analyze and
their individual strengths
 Activity
reflect on their personal and and needs in order to work
professional strengths and
collaboratively with another
needs.
teacher, and to address the
needs of all learners in the
classroom.
Pair
activity
where
coThis activity allows coTopics that Co-Teachers Need to
teachers address classroom
teachers to reflect on their
Discuss
practices
and
instructional
educational philosophy and
 Handout
issues in order to reach a
personal belief system in
compromise.
order to develop a
framework for an effective
co-teaching partnership.
Parity in the classroom is
Roles and Responsibilities Think – Pair - Share
Activity – Co- teachers
necessary for effective co Handout
discuss role responsibility in teaching. Each co-teaching
their classroom.
situation is unique;
therefore, individual pairs
must determine role division
or role sharing.
Collaborative problem
Challenges – Carousal Activity Co-Teachers will identify
their
3
top
barriers
that
they
solving and open
 Sticky notes
foresee impeding success in communication are
 Chart paper
their co-taught classroom,
necessary to identify and
and the large group will
overcome barriers involved
problem solve ways to
in co-teaching. This will be
address the barriers. They
an on-going process in the
will place sticky notes on 3 co-taught classroom.
charts.
Session II – Moving Beyond the Lecture: Meeting the Needs of All Learners
Description of Session: This second session will focus on instructional delivery and meeting the
needs of all learners in the co-taught classroom. Co-teachers will be given an opportunity to
analyze the five models of co-teaching and plan a lesson using one of the models.
Objective:

Develop effective instructional delivery methods to address the needs of all learners in
the co-taught classroom
Objective Outcome Assessment: Anticipation Guide
Agenda

HMOY (How Many of You) Questions

Individual Learning Styles

Instructional Delivery – “Not a One Size Fits All Model”

Co-Teaching Anticipation Guide

Five Models of Co-Teaching

Benefits and Barriers in the Co-Teaching Models - Jigsaw Activity

Develop a sample lesson using one of the co-teaching models
Materials
Descriptions
Explanations of Applications
Learning Style Inventory
 Handout
Each participant will complete
a learning style inventory to
determine their primary
learning style.
Co-Teaching Anticipation
Guide
 Handout
Participants will read a series
of statements on co-teaching
and identify whether they
agree or disagree with the
Teachers as well as students
need to be aware of their
individual learning styles.
Teachers are able to meet the
needs of all of their students
when they are aware of
individual differences and can
plan for these differences.
Anticipation guides test prior
knowledge and knowledge
after instruction. Participants
will have an opportunity to
statement.
Five Models of Co-Teaching
– Jigsaw Activity
 Handouts
Sample Lesson Plan
utilizing one of the 5 coteaching models
change their responses at the
end of the session.
Participants will be divided
A jigsaw activity allows each
into 5 groups. Each group will group to present a component
be assigned one model and
of a larger concept.
will identify the benefits,
barriers, and application of the
model. Each group will report
out to the large group,
Each co-teaching pair will
Allows for application of the
design a lesson using one of
material from the in-service
the 5 Models of Co-teaching,
presentation, and promotes
and plan to implement the
future reflection and
lesson before the next
evaluation.
workshop.
Session III – Collaborate, Evaluate, and Celebrate
Description of Session: This final session will allow co-teachers to reflect on lesson
implementation and instructional strategies. Time will be allotted for collaborative problem
solving within the large group. Participants will also have an opportunity to share their
frustrations and triumphs.
Objectives:

Evaluate effective instructional delivery methods to address the needs of all learners in
the co-taught classroom

Determine future co-teaching needs
Objective Outcome Assessment: Team Self-Evaluation and Co-Teaching Needs Assessment
Agenda






“Aha” Moments
Reflection on lesson implementation
Problem solve and collaborate with co-teacher and large group
Where Are We Now and Where Do We Want to Go? (Evaluation Form)
Something to Think About – Assessing Co-Teaching
Determine future co-teaching professional development needs
Materials
Descriptions
Where Are We Now and
Where Do We Want to Go?
 Co-Teaching
Evaluation Form
Co-Teaching Formative
Observation Form
A pair evaluation tool for coteachers to gauge their
accomplishments and plan for
future growth.
A tool that can be used for
formative evaluations, drop
ins, or peer coaching.
Needs Assessment
Participants will complete a
Needs Assessment to
determine future professional
development needs.
Explanations of Applications
Reflection is necessary for
growth to occur.
Formative evaluations allow
co-teachers to look at
objective data to improve
instruction.
By assessing the needs of the
co-teachers, future
professional development can
be planned.