Theresa: My Co-Teaching Comfort Level

When looking through my students’ IEPs, nothing increases my anxiety more than seeing the word “co-teaching.” Behavior plans, transition difficulties, and problems listening to adults do not faze me. However, when I see that my students require co-teaching, I begin to feel a slight panic.

I know some teachers really enjoy co-teaching, but I have to admit, it is not one of my favorite things. Don’t get me wrong: I want to do what is best for my students, and if co-teaching is what they need, then that is what I will do. I have taken the classes, attended the PDs, and watched the videos about “ideal” co-teaching. But it is still something I am not very comfortable with.

This year, I am so lucky to be co-teaching with a wonderful colleague (and she is probably reading this right now, too!). Having a general education teacher who is willing to accept you into her classroom is really one of the most important things when it comes to successful co-teaching. I know that some teachers like to be left alone in their own classrooms, but come on! Having two teachers at once is better for all of the students.

I think that some of my discomfort with co-teaching comes from feeling like an outsider in the general education classroom. I’m only there for one class a day, and sometimes it’s inconsistent due to schedule changes. Also, finding time to collaborate on lesson plans can be nearly impossible, resulting in me feeling unprepared when I enter the other classroom. In such cases, I would often end up just helping one or two of the special education students complete their assignment. So this year, I am really making an effort to make sure I know what lessons will be happening and to give suggestions for accommodations.

As I was working out my schedule this year, I was able to arrange to cover some of my students’ co-teaching minutes during their science and social studies classes. When I mentioned to their teacher that I would be with her during the last class of the day, she was so excited. We began talking about the activities that would be covered during the first weeks and some other ideas to make things more beneficial for all of the students. We’ve kept our collaboration casual—which is working well! We often talk for a couple minutes here and there throughout the day, and we’re able to share all the information that we need to.

After the first week of school, this general education teacher asked how I felt about taking the lead for some of the lessons. I said that I would be more than willing to do so, but that I didn’t feel quite confident with science simply because I haven’t taught it before. So we agreed that I would take social studies while she covered science.

We just finished the first week with this new arrangement. The students were very excited about me taking the lead for social studies. My teaching style is similar to that of their general education teacher; we both like to use our laptops, LCD projector, and document camera to make things more engaging.

What excited me the most is that the general education teacher began working with the students who need a little more assistance (both students with IEPs and those without) while I focused on the whole class—a role reversal of sorts.

I think it’s great for the students to see that I am in the classroom to help everyone, not just those who come to my class earlier in the day. So while I’m sure that there will be some hiccups along the way, I am happy to say that my co-teaching is off to a great start this year!

Comments

[Tricia]

I am a veteran teacher at new school district. Along with the new district I have a new co-teacher who is just out of college. In our collaborative class we are doing exactly what you mentioned in the beginning. I am instructing all of the students while she works with the "labeled" students. It isn't fun for either one of us. We recently signed up to take a co-teaching workshop at a local university and hope to really get some good techniques and advice on how to team teach. She is only at my building for three periods and then she is at another site. Because of our schedule we have no common planning at all. I have one planning and she has resource at the same time. We are determined and excited though so it will happen! I will monitor this blog and look for more suggestions for those who are already actively involved.

[Theresa]

Thanks for the comments! I think one of the best things you can do to help facilitate a good co-teaching relationship is making yourself available, and take the effort to take the first step. The more you are visible and a constant present the more of an asset you can be for your co-teacher and the students.

[Angela Thomas]

Hi Theresa,

It is good to hear that you had a good relationship with the general education teacher. I am sure that the students benefited from having two amazing and selfless teachers to work with.

One of my goals is to become an asset to general education teachers, but that is not one of the easiest things to do I have found out. I agree that some teachers want to be left alone. How do I break the ice and move forward with helping students?

I am pretty easy going person,which may be the problem. Any suggestions on how I can become more proactive in those types of relationships?

I have got to start speaking up and getting in the mix!

Angela

[Rose]

I am so glad that I took the time to read these posts. I am a graduate student and a general educadtion teacher who is preparing to become a special education teacher. I have had great ideas about co-teaching and in studying about it, I have become more excited. Yes, I have had the thoughts about general education teachers not feeling cooperative. I can understand that some may feel that is an infringement on their teaching style. However, I believe that it can be very beneficial to the teacher and the students. As Kayman stated, spending time getting to know your co-teacher can be productive. It allows you to get a better relationship with the teacher so that the relationship within the school is even better.

Co-teaching should be an opportunity to share ideas and strategies in order to make teaching even more effective. It is not a competition to see who is the better teacher. We are to work together and realize that really, we just have one common goal and that goal is to make our students benefit from instruction in order to be be achievers.

[Melissa]

This is a weird subject for me because I am a new teacher, but I went back to school to get my degree. In my program all we talked about was co-teaching and the possibilities and models it can follow. I was very optimistic coming into my classrooms the for the first time thinking the co-teacher and I were going to b e partners. That is how I viewed us, we were a team. My optimistic bubble was quickly busted when I realized the general educators didn't share my co-teaching excitement and viewed me as the person who handled those children! I know coming into the middle of the year is hard and I am looking forward to next year and trying to get off on the right foot! However, if both parties aren't willing to collaborate then how do we get our co-teaching relationship on the right page?

[Kathleen]

I think co-teaching is an amazing skill to have as a teacher. However, I agree that many general education teachers do not like people to impede on their teaching styles. I have experienced both good and bad sides of co-teaching through my student teaching experiences. For some of my students it is what they needed to succeed and pass the class and that is what I want for my students. I think that when I do get my teaching license and start in a school that I will do whatever it takes for my students as I have seen in my student teaching. Co-teaching I think brings a new style of learning to each classroom that even students who do not have a disability can benefit from. Thanks for sharing your experience and how you have overcome your fears of coteaching and letting me know that I am not alone with what the future brings. I hope that I will be able to be in a good situations for co-teaching but if I am not I will have to overcome that barrier when it comes time.

[Theresa]

Thanks for sharing your comments. My suggestions for co-teaching would be to always keep a positive outlook and be willing to go the extra mile to make co-teaching be successful.

[Alyse]

I have a lot of fears about co-teaching just because of stories I have heard about general education teachers not cooperating. I've just heard stories about general education teachers that don't believe students with special needs should even be in their classroom. I am doing half days in a school right now for my practicum (not even student teaching yet) and I have been in the science classroom for second hour with two boys with developmental disabilities. The teacher has really involved me in helping to think of ways to accommodate them and to involve them in the class. One of the boys is graded but with modifications and accommodations and the other student is pass/fail. The other day they had a test and the teacher said that they could use clay and model some of the concepts that were learned. The boy that gets actual grades in the class is too smart and knows that everybody else is taking a real test and he wants a real test too. So I worked with him reading the test for him and spelling out the answers that he said. The next day the teacher had me grade the test and told me to figure out a score that I think would be reasonable. The student got a little less than half of the answers correct but knew most of the general concepts. It was really nice to be included in the classroom and I hope in the future my experiences with general ed teachers are the same.

[Karyssa]

I am currently spending the first hour of my day in a pre-algebra class. Luckily, the general education teacher I am working with is very supportive and accepting of having another teacher in the room. When the students with needs started showing signs of struggling, I was able to sit down with the teacher and discuss my ideas. I was so glad to find that my thoughts were welcomed and even put into effect. So far during class time, I've taken more of a passive approach by walking around the classroom while the teacher is giving the lesson to answer any questions and make sure students are keeping their notes organized. I do want to become more involved in the lessons and utilize this opportunity to work with a strong educator. I think it's great that you and your co-teacher have built such a rapport with each other and the students that you are comfortable switching roles in the classroom. Please keep sharing your experiences with co-teaching. It's very encouraging to learn more about positive co-teaching relationships and how to apply theses strategies.

I'm also wondering how you've set up your schedule to accommodate these times for co-teaching? My current experience is at a high school, and the special educators are struggling to meet the needs of all their students as their case load ranges across grade levels and students are in different classrooms each period. I think co-teaching is very beneficial, but it's difficult to juggle remedial programs and inclusive environments when schedules are so scattered. What suggestions would you have for educators trying to make co-teaching and inclusion work?

[Kayman McIver]

I've been a co-teacher for 5 years and I have an amazing relationship with all of my co's. The first couple years were rough, but knowing the informaion ahead of time is fabulous. And you have to build a relationship with your co-teacher; that's the best thing I did. I have gone to dinner (at places I didn't like) and gone jogging and gone to choir performances only because the co-teacher told me it was something they enjoyed. Investing in them built our relationship so that the kids benefit! We just had to get to know each other outside the classroom so that there was a flow. And it's introduced me to some great things too! Build a relationship outside school so that it's easy in the classroom.

[Leighann]

I am going to be student teaching next semester, and I am preparing myself for perhaps being in a co-teaching situation. I have my worries about this, because I do not want the teacher I am with to feel like I am stepping on his or her toes and feel that because I am a student teacher, I will not be able to pull my own weight. I believe, however, that co-teaching is an incredible way to teach a class. It allows for two teachers to be in the room at a time, so if any incidents come up they can be dealt with; it allows for a collaboration of teaching styles and strategies; and it allows me a way to branch out and try something new to best teach my students. I think that it would be comforting to have a co-teacher because I have someone to rely on if things are not going as well as they could, and I have a sounding board if I need advice on how to handle a situation. Although I am nervous about being placed in a co-teaching situation, I acknowledge that it is a positive experience for the students and it will help me provide the best education possible. Do you have any tips for how to approach co-teaching as a student teacher? Thank you for sharing your story.

[Jason johnson]

I am a co-teacher in West Virginia and I hate it! Veteran teachers refuse to give up control of the classroom and the majority of my day is spent doing nothing. Special educators are getting left behind in this co-teaching movement and the kids are suffering because of it. I'm pretty sure in other parts of the country it is successful, but until some of these veterans retire, we(special educators) will continue to suffer.

[Kayla]

I am student teaching but this is definitely something that scares me! Sometimes, you can get stuck with a general education teacher that thinks our students should not even be in their classroom. Obviously, this is not the case for you so it is a good match and works out well! Even when I had a course on inclusion and co-teaching, I was not all for it. I thought to myself, I went into this major because I like working with these students in the resource room. It took me seeing an effective co-teaching environment to get sold on this idea. Once I saw an effective co-taught classroom, I saw how great it really is. I will be excited to try it with another excited general education teacher who will be a good match with me. It certainly has amazing social benefits for our students. They also reap academic benefits. The general education students also benefit from having to work and socialize with students with disabilities because they will have to in the real world. They also can learn more by being peer tutors to their peers with disabilities. It truly is a wonderful resource and I'm glad to hear you have found a good match for you. Keep it up and I hope this situation continues to be smooth sailing for you. If you hit a rough patch, I hope you really try to work it out because co-teaching is a wonderful tool.

[Carissa]

I think co-teaching is a great skill to have in schools. I am starting student teaching soon and see co-teaching as something that makes me nervous. I feel like because i am not use to being up in front of the classroom, co-teaching will make me nervous as having someone who has been there longer watch and critique what i do. But I know that as you, i will do whatever I have to, to ensure the students get what they need to be successful. Maybe when it comes my time to co-teach i will feel comfortable and have a great teacher to work with. My nerves on this concept are more from possibly working with a teacher who is not as excited to be working with me. Thank you so much for sharing you positive experience with co-teaching, it makes me more relaxed and optimistic for the future. Also, hopeful for a open-minded and understanding co-teacher.