Although co-teaching is something that has been around for years, and seen daily in Benton Community classrooms, this year it has become more of a focus for the teachers at the middle/high school. By definition, co-teaching is an instructional strategy in which two or more educators collaborate to teach a group of students, including those with diverse needs. First semester, there are a total of fourteen classes where co-teaching is taking place. Each set of co-teachers meet on a weekly basis to discuss things that include: plaining for the week ahead, how they will share teaching responsibilities in the classroom, ways they can differentiate tasks for the variety of learning styles in the classroom, etc.
There are so many benefits that are offered through the co-teaching model for not only the students in the room, but for the teachers as well. There is increased student support where co-teachers can provide more individualized attention and support to students which can help students make significant academic progress. Students are also able to see first-hand what it is like to collaborate with others and how teamwork and working with others is a valuable skill that they will need to know how to do not just in the classrooms, but outside of the classrooms as well. Students may not understand an explanation given by one teacher, but the other teacher in the room might be able to explain it in a different manner which they can connect with and understand, so co-teaching also lets students and adults alike, see things from multiple perspectives.
When students were asked what they like about the co-teaching classes that they are apart of, some responses included: “The co-teacher can help you out when the teacher isn’t available.” “I like how some co-teachers will jump in and show me a different way to do something in math if I don't understand how the other teacher explained something.” Some teachers added, “It’s nice to have another set of eyes in the classroom to help recognize when students are struggling and then be able to help them in a more timely manner.” “It’s great to be able to break up into smaller groups and give those struggling students more attention and reteaching of concepts as well as being able to give those high achievers more difficult problems to work through that other students might not be ready for quite yet.”