Using Co-teaching as Professional Development for Middle Level Teacher Candidates, Cooperating Teachers, and University Faculty
Abstract
Middle level educational frameworks have historically used collaborative forms of teaching (Bean, 1997; Stevenson & Carr, 1993; Vars, 1993). Exemplary middle schools use interdisciplinary teaming which often involves co-planning and co-teaching with two or more teachers coming from different subject areas (Bean, 1997; Author, 2013). In addition to this collaborative foundation, federal mandates for supporting students have led to frequent co-teaching between special educators, bilingual specialists, and regular classroom teachers. This increased attention to differentiated instruction and curriculum demands that incoming professionals be proficient in meeting the needs of every student. Given that middle level educational frameworks, current inclusion practices, and demands for differentiation are all dependent upon teachers working together, increasing the presence of co-teaching within middle level teacher education program is both pragmatically sound and connected to foundational theories of middle level education. Middle school teachers and university faculty members who engage in co-teaching with teacher candidates can provide candidates with practical experiences tied closely to the work that will be expected of them as public school teachers. Early exposure to co-teaching models can better equip our students for their future work in today’s schools. This study critically explores the professional growth possible from the implementation of a co-teaching model within a middle grades education program. The potential benefits and drawbacks of co-teaching for middle level teacher candidates, classroom teachers, and university faculty were explored. The results of this study may provide a unique framework of co-teaching which enhances interactions among educational constituents for improved teacher preparation, professional development for practicing teachers, and improved instruction for middle grades students.
Using Co-teaching as Professional Development for Middle Level Teacher Candidates, Cooperating Teachers, and University Faculty
Session 2-1 Prairie Room North
Middle level educational frameworks have historically used collaborative forms of teaching (Bean, 1997; Stevenson & Carr, 1993; Vars, 1993). Exemplary middle schools use interdisciplinary teaming which often involves co-planning and co-teaching with two or more teachers coming from different subject areas (Bean, 1997; Author, 2013). In addition to this collaborative foundation, federal mandates for supporting students have led to frequent co-teaching between special educators, bilingual specialists, and regular classroom teachers. This increased attention to differentiated instruction and curriculum demands that incoming professionals be proficient in meeting the needs of every student. Given that middle level educational frameworks, current inclusion practices, and demands for differentiation are all dependent upon teachers working together, increasing the presence of co-teaching within middle level teacher education program is both pragmatically sound and connected to foundational theories of middle level education. Middle school teachers and university faculty members who engage in co-teaching with teacher candidates can provide candidates with practical experiences tied closely to the work that will be expected of them as public school teachers. Early exposure to co-teaching models can better equip our students for their future work in today’s schools. This study critically explores the professional growth possible from the implementation of a co-teaching model within a middle grades education program. The potential benefits and drawbacks of co-teaching for middle level teacher candidates, classroom teachers, and university faculty were explored. The results of this study may provide a unique framework of co-teaching which enhances interactions among educational constituents for improved teacher preparation, professional development for practicing teachers, and improved instruction for middle grades students.