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The Co-Teacher's Playbook
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The Co-Teacher's Playbook
What It Takes to Make Co-Teaching Work for Everyone

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August 2019 | 152 pages | Corwin
Expert guidance for creating a successful partnership!

In today’s inclusive classrooms, general-education teachers might be paired with special-education teachers, ELL specialists, interventionists, or paraprofessionals in a co-teaching partnership. No matter your exact situation—or which side of the equation you’re on—co-teachers share similar challenges, including struggles with communication, trouble with equitable grading, and lack of planning time.

Whether you’re new to co-teaching, new to your partner, or just see room for improvement in the way you connect, it’s time to make the partnership really benefit your students. So grab a cup of coffee and your co-teacher—this hands-on workbook is designed for the two of you to use together. Features include:

Stories from experienced co-teachers
Reflective activities to help each of you discover your collaboration style
Reproducible lists, checklists, templates, agreements, and more to complete together
A downloadable unit-planning tool

When co-teaching is done well, the benefits for students are immeasurable. Let this guide’s expert advice and eye-opening activities take your co-teaching to a new level of success.

 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
Introduction: Why This Book, and Why Me?
 
Chapter 1: Understanding
Introduction

 
What Is Co-Teaching?

 
Activity: What’s Your Definition?

 
Benefits of Co-Teaching

 
Activity: The Benefits of Co-Teaching

 
Co-Teaching: What Does It Look Like in Today’s Classrooms?

 
General Ed and Special Ed Partnerships

 
General Ed and ESL/ELL Partnerships

 
General Ed and Interventionist Partnerships

 
General Ed and Specialist Partnerships

 
General Ed and Paraprofessional Partnerships

 
Activity: Taking Stock

 
Co-Teaching Structures

 
Reflection Questions

 
Conclusion

 
Tool 1: Welcome Letter to Students Template

 
Tool 2: Welcome Letter to Parents Template, Elementary

 
Tool 3: Welcome Letter to Parents Template, Secondary

 
Extension 1: Co-Teaching Scavenger Hunt

 
Extension 2: Create a Co-Teaching Vision Board

 
 
Chapter 2: Relating
Introduction

 
Activity: What I Bring to the Table

 
The Four Pillars of a Great Co-Teaching Partnership

 
Pillar 1: Respect

 
Activity: Reflect and Write

 
Pillar 2: Communication

 
Activity: My Beliefs about Teaching

 
Activity: Important Questions for Us to Discuss

 
Vignette: R. K. Smith Middle School in Luling, Louisiana

 
Pillar 3: Flexibility

 
Activity: My Preferences in the Classroom

 
Understanding the Activity

 
Pillar 4: Humor

 
Activity: Let’s Humor Each Other!

 
Being Prepared for the Highs and the Lows

 
Examples of Norms for Working Together

 
Examples of Norms for Weekly Meetings

 
Activity: Write Your Norms

 
How to Handle an Uncooperative Co-Teacher

 
Conclusion

 
Vignette: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

 
Tool 1: Our Goals

 
Tool 2: Protocols

 
Extension 1: Personality Tests

 
Extension 2: Learning More about Paraphrasing Skills

 
 
Chapter 3: Managing
Introduction

 
Planning for the Learning Environment

 
Advice for Establishing Routines and Procedures

 
Procedures, Consequences, and Recognition

 
Determining Who Will Handle What

 
Activity: Whose Job Is It?

 
Conclusion

 
Tool 1: Student Compact

 
Tool 2: Positive Notes to Students

 
 
Chapter 4: Teaching
Introduction

 
Unit Planning

 
Activity: Unpacking the Standards and Creating Learning Targets

 
Activity: Big Ideas and Essential Questions

 
Creating the Unit

 
Summative Assessment

 
Daily Lessons

 
Effective Lesson Design

 
Planning for Ongoing Collaboration

 
Activity: Reflection Questions

 
Do’s and Don’ts for Co-Teaching Meetings

 
Tips for Calendaring Meetings

 
Conclusion

 
Tool 1: Unit Plan Template

 
Tool 2: Meeting Agenda Templates and Examples

 
Tool 3: “Look-Fors” Co-Teaching Observation Form

 
Extension 1: Protocols

 
Extension 2: Student Surveys

 
 
Chapter 5: Assessing
Introduction

 
Assessment in General

 
Formative versus Summative Assessment

 
Thinking about Formative Assessment

 
Activity: Thirty Fun, Formative Assessment Ideas

 
Lesson Structure That Includes Formative Assessment

 
Activity: Reflect on the Lesson

 
Assessment Considerations for Co-Taught Classes

 
The Value of Pre-Assessment

 
Conclusion

 
Tool 1: Creating a Pre-Assessment

 
 
Appendix A: A Brief History of Co-Teaching
 
Appendix B: The Six Co-Teaching Structures Depicted Visually
 
Appendix C: Sentence Frames for Paraphrasing, Summarizing, and Checking for Accuracy
 
Appendix D: Do Not Disturb Signs for Weekly Meetings
 
References
 
Index

Supplements

"Practitioners can use this workbook as a tool to get a good start on team teaching/co-teaching. It is well organized and well thought out. The personal experiences and vignettes are all relevant and show the good, the bad, and the ugly. It will be a big help to beginners and for those who want a second chance at making it work."

Claudia A. Danna
Sacred Heart University

"This book is an excellent resource for teachers new to co-teaching. It is a resource both teachers should use to learn about each other and their teaching styles so they can ensure their classroom environment and teaching best serves their students."

Stacy Lemongelli
Perth Amboy Public Schools District

“As we strive for high levels of learning—and college/career readiness—for all students, co-teaching has never been as important. No one has as much to offer in guiding educators to success within inclusive, differentiated environments than Angela Peery. This book will be your trusted resource.”

Chris Weber, EdD
Irvine Unified School District

The Co-Teacher’s Playbook is one of those rare occasions where the content delivers on the promise of the title. I don’t know of a single other book on this topic that ties it together so well and in such a clear fashion though the use of tools, activities, and the clear, easy connections Dr. Peery has made. She has crafted a text that is applicable for those new to co-teaching with clear definitions and activities at each step, while also challenging veterans of the practice by sharing practical insights and extension activities. With this book Dr. Peery has moved the important work of co-teaching from novelty (practiced by a few, passionate educators) to necessity.”

Tom Hierck

The Co-Teacher’s Playbook is essential reading for making co-teaching a reality. Dr. Peery offers a comprehensive framework for successful implementation. Her book is a must read for any team contemplating a co-teaching model.”

Ajit "AJ" Pethe
St. Charles Parish Public Schools
Key features
Co-teachers and instructional coaches will find:
  • Stories from experienced co-teachers
  • Reflective activities to help co-teachers discover their collaboration style
  • Practical workbook-style with reproducibles for co-teachers to complete together
  • A downloadable unit-planning tool

For instructors

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