Co-Teaching in Ms.

Metzgers Class
In our classroom Mr. Abraham co-teaches math with Ms.
Metzger. Together they are effective in working with the entire
class to fully understand the material that is being taught. For
the month of September math is centered around budgeting
and modifying recipes for groups to prepare for our fancy
Friday meals. We learn about measurements, modifying the
recipes for the entire class to enjoy, budgeting to be able for
the class to afford to buy the ingredients, what store is the best price for what we need, and
creating a shopping list for a group to take the bus to buy the ingredients. The best way that Mr.
Abraham and Ms. Metzger work is when they team teach, this is when both teachers are
teaching and bounce ideas and go back and forth with teaching the class. It is really neat to see
when they both work together how responsive the class is to having that extra support to teach
ideas differently that all students understand!
Styles of Co-Teaching
One Teach, One Observe- The purpose of one teaching, one observing is used in the event
that data needs to be collected. One teacher leads instruction while the other teacher gathers
data, observes classroom behaviors, etc.
Station Teaching- The purpose of station teaching is to decrease student teacher ratio, present
targeted instructional content and/or cooperative learning. Students are broken into three or
more heterogeneous or homogeneous groups. Teachers can provide direct instruction at a
station or monitor multiple stations. The small groups rotate around stations.
Parallel Teaching- The purpose of parallel teaching is to decrease student teacher ratio and
target students instructional needs. Students are divided into two groups. Each group is led by
a co-teacher. Each group receives the same content but through differentiated instruction.
Alternative Teaching-The purpose of alternative teaching is to re-teach the at-risk students
while providing accelerated content to the remaining students. Based on previous assessments,
both teachers will decide which students are at-risk. One teacher works with the at-risk group
while the other continues to providing instruction.
Team Teaching- The purpose of teaming is to share the role of lead teacher in delivering
instruction and providing student support While team teaching, co-teachers should act as one
brain in two bodies (Friend, 2008, p. 75). For example, both teachers may facilitate a
discussion while performing different roles such as writing on the board emphasizing key points.
One teaching, One Assisting-The purpose of one teaching, one assisting is to deliver
instruction and monitor student progress. As one teacher leads the whole class, the other
teacher provides supports, answers questions, monitors student behavior, etc.
(Definitions taken from: Effective co-teaching practices.(n.d) A simple guide to co-teaching.
Retrieved October 10, 2014, from
http://marylandlearninglinks.org/data/ck/sites/121/files/Sharpe%20Co-
Teaching%20Manual%20MSDE%20Grant.pdf )