Re: Co-teaching advice?

by Susan Cox

Jan 19, 2013

This is my first experience with co-teaching and I really think I'd like it in a different set up. I have four 8th grade Social Studies classes with an average of 28 students a class, 11 of each are special needs. My co-teacher is actually a TA with no Special Education certification. She seems determined to grade papers, and walk the kids to the cafeteria. That's it. My administrators are aware of the problem but my observations include "not utilizing my co- teacher." I've tried to no avail. Everytime I ask her to do something, she has an excuse why she can't. She walks out of class for 20 and 30 minutes at a time without saying a word. I could go on and on......I guess my question is How do you co-teach with a resistant teacher assistant?

Comment

(3)

report post

some ?????? On 1/19/13, Susan Cox wrote: > This is my first experience with co-teaching and I really > think I'd like it in a different set up. I have four 8th > grade Social Studies classes with an average of 28 students > a class, 11 of each are special needs. My co-teacher is > actually a TA with no Special Education certification. She > s...See MoreOn 1/19/13, Susan Cox wrote: > This is my first experience with co-teaching and I really > think I'd like it in a different set up. I have four 8th > grade Social Studies classes with an average of 28 students > a class, 11 of each are special needs. My co-teacher is > actually a TA with no Special Education certification. She > seems determined to grade papers, and walk the kids to the > cafeteria. That's it. My administrators are aware of the > problem but my observations include "not utilizing my co- > teacher." I've tried to no avail. Everytime I ask her to > do something, she has an excuse why she can't. She walks > out of class for 20 and 30 minutes at a time without saying > a word. I could go on and on......I guess my question is > How do you co-teach with a resistant teacher assistant?

Is there a written job description for her position to refer to? If not, that is part of your problem. I have always worked with a co teacher and at all of my schools, there has always been a very thorough list of duties to be carried out.

At this point, I would make up a list of what you need from her to carry out. Do not give her anything that you would not be willing to do yourself. Share the load! I always looked at my co teachers as my second pair of eyes and always respected their input. The students in our classrooms never knew who the lead teacher was although I was and did most of the 'teaching" kind of work. I looked at us a team. I knew my strengths and weaknesses and my co teachers often could balance those out with me.

Once I had my list of what I would like to have my co teacher help more with, I would sit down with her and go down the list to see which things I could handle best and which ones she would be responsible for. She needs to have ownership of the responsibilities. Have you and her sign the agreement, dated. Tell her that you feel that she hasn't been able to show what she is really capable of doing and you would like to see her be successful.

If you find that she is not doing her work as agreed upon, document, document, document. Review after a couple weeks to fine tune the agreement and answer any questions she might have. If she continues to not fulful her duties in a timely manner, then with your documentation, you can point those out to her as well as all the positive things she is doing. You know, the old sandwich approach we use when we conference with parents - good thing then any problem ending upbeat. Again, have her sign that review or update each time. Having a paper trail will serve both of you well should this have to go to administration.

I loved co teaching and I usually had fantastic teachers who didn't need much direction or motivation. We had fun together and they always loved the fact that I was the one who had to deal with the parents, any problems, the planning. They just needed to help implement it. I had a couple not so great co teachers, but they still were able to offer a lot of positives in different ways. I just had a lot more work to do those years. Fortuneately, they were only with the school for one year.

Jan 19, 2013

report post

How is she a "co-teacher" if she has no credential? You're not "co-teaching." You've got an aide in your room who's not doing her job. Who does HER observations, when she's out roaming the countryside instead of helping the kids?

On 1/19/13, Susan Cox wrote: > This is my first experience with co-teaching and I really > think I'd like it in a different set up. I have four 8th > grad...See More

Jan 20, 2013

report post

Susan On 1/20/13, How is she a "co-teacher" if she has no credential? wrote: > You're not "co-teaching." You've got an aide in your room > who's not doing her job. Who does HER observations, when she's > out roaming the countryside instead of helping the kids? > > > On 1/19/13, Susan Cox wrote: >> This is my first experience with...See More

Jan 22, 2013

report post

More discussions on the Co-Teaching Chatboard...

suggestion

by Randy Binag

Re: co-teaching out of content