Do you ever feel like you’re drowning in a heap of good intentions but you’re not sure how to get the co-teaching ball rolling? These quick tips for co-teaching will help librarians and teachers like you co-teach with little to no prep.
Welcome to part 4 of my Continuum of Collaboration Series all about the most involved part of the collaboration process and tips for co-teaching success!
Different Co-Teaching Models Meet Different Needs
My colleague and I are at different tables in the school library while students write around the room inspired by an idea from Buffy Hamilton years back. We purposefully picked our co-teaching model. Students are answering bioethics questions based on the book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. We matched the co-teaching model with what worked for the students (stations for this lesson) and we used different co-teaching models throughout the unit we created based on the book.
There are quite a few different co-teaching models. What do they look like in the school library and how do you make co-teaching an awesome experience for everyone involved?
I’ve successfully used what I know about different co-teaching models from my special education background and integrated it into the school library environment and I’m so excited to share my tips for co-teaching with you!
3 Tips for Co-Teaching to Use Right Now
Stalk Your Colleagues- Kinda
Really though, mark your digital calendar with times in the school year where teachers do projects you think would be great co-teaching opportunities. Does Jeff from down the hall teach a science research unit but it’s already underway? Do you have ideas you can add to the project to take it to the next level? Throw him a life preserver- offer to help! Talk to him about it as soon as you can. Introduce your ideas and work together. Or, talk to him afterward and ask what went well.
Some new ideas can be implemented right away and some might have to wait.
So, remember…
Put it on your calendar to follow up with him the next school year a couple of months BEFORE the unit comes around again. Have your ideas ready and GO! Remember this is all about how the synergy you create with your co-teacher will create better student outcomes. How exciting!
Make a Mindful Match
As you plan a collaborative lesson, think about how to co-teach the lesson most effectively. What is your objective? How can it best be met with the bonus of having two teachers in the room?! I mean, two teachers together can accomplish most anything. Woo-hoo!
Meet Teachers Where They Are
If a colleague wants you to do a guest lecture and you think it would be better to team teach a unit, gently push. Think erosion, not an earthquake. If your powers of persuasion don’t work, know that your collaboration is still positively affecting students and teachers. Check out my previous posts about the continuum of collaboration.
Want to approach a teacher about co-teaching now, but you both are strapped for time? Curation might be the best option when you don’t have the time to fully integrate into a unit.
Again, see the previous continuum posts. Can you recommend one or two resources or design something to help with the project or lesson? Think big but plan with baby steps.
Now that you’re armed with my top 3 co-teaching tips, let’s talk choosing the right model for your collaboration.
Different Co-Teaching Models That Work for Teachers and Librarians
Co Teaching Model: One Lead and One Assist
This happens often. The school librarian is the guest lecturer sharing knowledge, a process or skill. And it’s perfectly okay! Provide a ton of value here. Design short interactive lessons to present your material using a tool that you think the teacher might be able to use in other ways.
Try This:
Use Pear Deck, NearPod, Slido or a Quizlet Live to engage students and keep their attention during your presentation.
Use a Live Binder or an Adobe Spark Page to curate research sources.
Make a short screencast using Loom to teach how to use a database.
Use a Canva for Edu account to design an infographic to teach a process.
Co-Teaching Model: Parallel Teaching
For a big class or differentiated lesson this co-teaching approach works great! Teach the same concept at the same time in the same room to different kids.
This is a simple and straightforward option when both teachers are super comfortable with the content. It lends itself to book club lessons.
Try This: Create 10 questions to ask about a book, put them on a slideshow or print them, cut them into strips or squares and put them face down in a pile like playing cards. Run a book discussion where each student picks a slip from the pile on the table, reads the question or prompt, and starts the discussion.
Co-Teaching Model: Team Teaching
Both teachers teach at the same time to the whole group. This is overused and not effective unless well planned. It often turns into one lead and one assist without the right structure. However, with the right lesson and team, it can be extremely engaging and effective for the students.
Try this: Teach a lesson about graphic novels. The ELA teacher presents about how to read graphic novels using this website as a guide and then the teacher librarian Book Talks 5 great graphic novels with diverse characters. You can use my high school graphic novel game for a lesson just like this or as inspiration to create another one. It’s an editable game template in the “Would You Rather” format too so you can use it with other ideas too!
If you decide to use the activity, adapt it or use it differently, please let me know in the comments below.
Co-Teaching Model: Stations
This is such a fun way to engage older students and it’s often overlooked. Each teacher is in charge of a center or station. When possible, students physically move to different areas of the room to participate in the lesson.
Try this: Use an escape room activity where each teacher is in charge of giving a clue or participation in one or two of the elements.
I’ve designed library orientation escape rooms in collaboration with ELA teachers and it’s always a hit! It’s especially fun when the teacher is in charge of a spine poetry station!
If you want to know more about this or other lessons, join my email list below or send me a direct message on Instagram @angelajmax and I’ll blog about it.
Other Resources
- Edutopia article on six co-teaching models and their benefits
- Videos on Different Co-Teaching Models from an elementary school
- 7 Helpful Tips on How to Blog Like a Boss
Final Tips for Co-Teaching
The best thing I can leave you with is to remember the 3 simple co-teaching tips I’ve outlined above.
Using these strategies to get the ball rolling for a successful co-teaching experience.
This final step in my collaboration continuum is rewarding for everyone involved.
Once you get a co-teaching commitment from a colleague, then you’ll need some strategies to keep that collaboration going.
If you’ve used any of the different co-teaching models I discussed, drop a comment below or direct message me on Instagram @angelajmax.
