The document defines co-teaching as involving two or more teachers jointly delivering instruction to a diverse group of students in a shared classroom space. It describes six approaches to co-teaching: one teach/one observe, one teach/one assist, station teaching, parallel teaching, alternative teaching, and team teaching. The rationale for using co-teaching is that it meets student needs, provides less fragmented instruction, reduces stigma, and fosters support while also expanding teacher expertise and lowering student-teacher ratios. Key factors that influence co-teaching implementation include administrative support, teacher caseloads, voluntary participation, scheduling, and problem-solving techniques.

1. Co-Teaching Models Source: Friend & Cook (2000). Interactions

2. Objectives Define co-teaching Describe the rationale for using co-teaching Identify six approaches and examples of co-teaching

3. Co-teaching Rationale Meets student needs Provides less fragmented and more contextualized instruction Reduces stigma Provides opportunities Creates positive social interactions Fosters sense of support

4. Characteristics of Co-teaching 2+ Teachers Shared teaching responsibility Jointly deliver instruction Curriculum may be modified Diverse group of students Respond to range of needs Lowers student/teacher ratio Expands expertise Shared classroom space

5. Co-teaching Approaches One Teach ~ One Observe One Teach ~ One Assist Station Teaching Parallel Teaching Alternative Teaching Team Teaching

6. One Teach/One Observe Positives Little joint planning time Support teachers can learn about curriculum Effective for teachers new to collaboration Negatives Support teacher can be seen as an assistant *Use no more than 5-10% of the time!

7. One Teach/One Assist Positives Little joint planning time Opportunity to learn about curriculum Effective for teachers new to collaboration Negatives Special educator as an assistant Distraction Students can become dependent on the “assistant” *Use no more than 20% of the time!

8. Station Teaching Positives Each teacher had responsibility for delivering instruction Lower teacher to student ratio Students w/disabilities can be integrated into small groups Negatives Noise level can be distracting Movement can be distracting

9. Parallel Teaching Positives Lower teacher to student ratio Heterogeneous grouping More creativity in lesson delivery Negatives Teachers must both be comfortable in content Should not be used for initial instruction

10. Alternative Teaching Positives Helps with attention problem students Can re-teach, tutor, or enrich Negatives Stigmatizing Support teacher can be viewed as an assistant

11. Team Teaching Positives Shared responsibility Creativity in lesson delivery Innovative techniques Negatives Greatest amount of trust and commitment Most difficult to implement

12. School-wide Factors that Influence Co-teaching Administrative Support Support Teacher Caseload Voluntary vs. Involuntary Participation Scheduling (for teaching and planning) Problem-solving techniques