Co-Teaching Mini-Course

Unit 1

Unit Objective:By the completion of this mini-course, participants will recognize the challenges of co-teaching and utilize strategies that reduce such challenges, given a database of resources

The materials found in this unit are meant to help you understand the nation-wide understanding of co-teaching, as well as develop an understanding of why there has been a recent push towards an inclusive, co-teaching model. In this unit, you will be asked to take part in a myth versus fact quiz, in addition to, creating your own list of essential co-teaching strategies based upon your readings and personal beliefs.

Unit 2

START HERE: Unit 2: Co-Teaching Models

Unit Objective: By the completion of this mini-course, participants will demonstrate understanding of various Co-teaching models by selecting the most effective model for a given lesson from a given list of co-teaching models.

The materials found in this unit are meant to develop your knowledge of the various co-teaching models available to you. The hope is that these articles and videos will foster a sense of ownership and autonomy when it comes to making these important co-teaching decisions. In this unit, you will be asked to practice aligning co-teaching models to lessons based upon your understanding of the benefits of each co-teaching model. This is your opportunity to interact with your new learning and really play around with various models.

Unit 3

START HERE: UNIT 3: Roles and Responsibilities

Unit Objective: By the completion of this mini-course, participants will interact with a team member to design one’s role and responsibilities in the classroom, within 30 minutes given a graphic organizer.

The materials found in this unit are meant to understand what is and what is not expected of you in your co-teaching relationship. These tools should also help you to open the door to conversation with your co-teacher and set you up for successful planning for the subsequent unit. In this unit, you will be asked to begin solidifying your co-teaching relationship by working closely with your co-teacher to develop a deeper sense of each of your needs and preferences when it comes to instruction, planning, responsibilities, and expectations.

Unit 4

START HERE: UNIT 4: Co-Planning

Unit Objective: By the completion of this mini-course, participants will develop the skills to lead and facilitate a discussion about co-planning when working one-on-one with a Co-teacher for 30 minutes.

The materials found in this unit are meant to help you facilitate your own co-planning meeting. The tools you view in this unit are expected to be modified, played with, and tested to ensure they are tailored to your own personal needs. In this unit, you will be sitting down your co-teacher and leading an entire co-planning meeting. The activities in this unit will walk you through what to do before, during, and after the meeting. Additionally, the previous activities you have completed in prior units have led you to this point!

Unit 5

START HERE: UNIT 5: Self-Evaluation

Unit Objective: By the completion of this mini-course, participants will contribute personal feedback on self and colleague’s co-teaching, given a graphic organizer.

The materials found in this unit are meant to help you reflect upon your own co-teaching practices. Similarly to the previous unit, the tools you open in this unit are expected to be modified, played with, and tested to ensure they are tailored to your own personal needs. Finally, this final unit, will lead you through the ever so important step of reflection. You will be reflecting on your own teaching practices and sharing these with your co-teacher with the hope that you will use this data to continually improve your practice.

Closing Remarks

Thank you so much for participating in my mini-course: Co-Teaching: from someone in the biz. I had a lot of fun putting this together for you and I hope you got as much out of the course as I did making it. Please feel free to modify and tailor this course to your own personal use and needs. You do not need to work through this course in order or complete every single activity, feel free do as you feel is necessary for you!

Enjoy!