The diverse needs of students become increasingly apparent each day, and we cannot wait for school budgets to expand to meet these needs. Reimagining the way we plan, teach, reflect on data, and adjust instruction can help schools make the most out of student-personnel ratios. Additionally, creating change in the name of what is best for kids can also create a significant shift in school culture that will need to be carefully planned for, transparent among all stakeholders, and implemented with intention.
We invite classroom teachers, special education teachers, administrators, specialists, and paraeducators to a Co-Teaching Institute this summer, June 24-25, 2024.
The Demonstrated Success Team defines co-teaching as a classroom culture and structure that creatively maximizes the complementary skill sets of school adults, increasing differentiated and accessible learning experiences for all students by intentional design.
This institute will support school professionals who are looking to improve or establish practices along a co-teaching continuum, including efficient co-planning meetings, effective full or part-time co-taught classrooms, shared responsibilities in assessment instruction and classroom management, and improving communication flow and expectations to paraprofessionals and other school specialists. The two days will include a balance of full group, breakout, and independent work to support growth in attendees, regardless of role. Special attention will be given to supporting paraeducators and increasing the inclusion of their role into planning and communication.
Institute objectives:
- Learn six types of co-teaching models, including variations, that can make the most of student-teacher-para ratios.
- Design systems of co-planning, co-instructing, collecting and sharing student performance information.
- Consider how skill sets and identities will impact co-teaching at all places on the co-teaching continuum.
- Name potential barriers and design creative solutions to strengthen implementation of co-teaching practices, maximizing the role of paraeducators in the classroom.
- Find tools to support self- and team-assessment of co-teaching.
