Text 3.A Co-Teaching: What is it? and Why do it?

What is it?

Back when I was student teaching, it seemed common for the cooperating teacher to just fling the student teacher into the classroom while they took a break in the teacher's lounge. (Or was that just me?) We know now that teacher candidates' educations benefit more from the cooperating teacher's support within the classroom. Certainly it is not inappropriate to allow a teacher candidate some "alone time" with the students if this is what they need to gain independence and confidence. But this may not be the best strategy to call upon as a "go-to" strategy.

With co-teaching, both the cooperating teacher and the candidate are present in the classroom and work together to meet students' needs. As our colleagues at Western Oregon University put it, "The goal of the co-teaching model is to provide the teacher candidate a realistic teaching experience (planning, teaching, reflecting, and assessing student work) with the cooperating teacher remaining engaged with the students as a co-teacher and co-planner. This partnership enhances the skill of collaboration with professional colleagues."

Why do it? (With a caveat)

Many cooperating teachers and teacher candidates find many benefits in co-teaching. Some of these are summarized below**:

Benefits for P-12 Students	Benefits for Cooperating Teachers	Benefits for Teacher Candidates
Reduced student to teacher ratio Increased instructional options for all students Diversity of instructional styles Greater levels of student engaged time Greater student participation	Enhanced collaboration skills Increased options for flexible groupings of students Another set of eyes to watch and help problem solve Flexibility to try things you wouldn't be able to do alone Help with classroom management	Enhanced collaboration skills Improved classroom management skills More teaching time Increased confidence Deeper understanding of the curriculum More opportunities to ask questions and reflect

Note that the teacher candidates in student teaching experiences must complete the edTPA (Educative Teacher Performance Assessment) and the scorers of this performance assessment will need to see the candidate in action. Therefore, during the edTPA videorecording process your role will likely be as videographer rather than active team teacher (for example).

**Source: Western Oregon University