Maximizing Student Achievement through Planning with Co-Teaching Models

ETAP 623 Fall 2022 (Zhang) | Karla's Portfolio Page

Guiding Question: How can I design my instruction to help my students grow?

Introduction

If you are here, chances are that you are a teacher in a co-taught classroom. Maybe this is your first year or your fifteenth, maybe you've always taught alone or you've switched co-teachers every year. Maybe you are an experienced co-teacher but you feel like your classroom is a routinized rut, and your students aren't making the growth you thought they would. Regardless of your background, you are here because you are an educator who is committed to the achievement and growth of your students.

Being in a co-taught classroom is a blessing, though not one without it's challenges. Teachers generally feel that being in a co-taught classroom is "effective in facilitating the academic development of students, both with and without disabilities," but with as much conviction, teachers tend to feel that there is not enough pre-service training to prepare them to effectively utilize co-teaching to its fullest (Austin, 2001). The reality is, while having two teachers in a classroom is intended to support students, it doesn't happen by accident. There is necessary planning and preparation that must happen for co-teaching to have its intended effect.

In this course, you will focus in on one aspect of co-teaching-- delivery of instruction. You will learn about the six co-teaching models, what works and what doesn't in each one, and how to plan with them in mind.

Who Am I?

• You are a practicing educator who is in a co-taught classroom and committed to student excellence.
• You believe that all students can succeed, and that the instructional decisions you make have a direct impact on that success.
• You are a teacher who would like to intentionally and confidently use a variety of co-teaching models to best support your students.

Course Units

This mini-course will take you through the following learning journey, click on the links to navigate through.

Pre-Assessment: What Do I Already Know About Co-Teaching Models?

Unit 1: What Are The Co-Teaching Models?- In this unit, you will be exposed to the six co-teaching models. You will leave this unit being able to name the attributes, pros and cons of each model.

Unit 2: Which Model Is This? - In this unit, you will be observing and analyzing several model classrooms. You will leave this unit being able identify and evaluate co-teaching models in action.

Unit 3: How Do I Use The Models?- In this unit you will enhance a lesson plan by choosing an appropriate co-teaching model to drive instruction. You will leave this unit being able to apply co-teaching models to already existing units by considering the objective, learning activities and intended audience of a lesson.

Unit 4: Did I Use The Right Model?- In this unit you will evaluate the effectiveness of a chosen co-teaching model by reflecting on it's feasibility and the impact it could have on student success. You will leave this unit being able to reflect on the influence of a particular co-teaching model on student achievement.

Post-Assessment: What Do I Know Now?

Everyone knows something, so take this quiz to self-assess and see what you already know about co-teaching, and what you have left to learn! --> What Do I Already Know About Co-Teaching Models?