Monday, January 17, 2011
Co-teaching pilot off to a great start
Barb Lynn (standing)and USI student Ms. Watson (right)use mealworms during classroom lab at Highland Elementary School.
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Betty Vawter Senior Editor, News & Information Services 812/480-1873 Administered by the Department of Teacher Education in the USI Bower-Suhrheinrich College of Education and Human Services, the co-teaching pilot program includes 20 classroom teachers and 20 teacher candidates at 17 schools in two school systems - Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation and the Catholic Diocese of Evansville. "In traditional student-teaching the lead teacher gradually allows the student teacher to assume control of the class," said Jon Siau, art teacher at North High School in Evansville. "In the co-teaching experience, the teacher candidate is immersed into the role of teaching from the beginning. I think that the co-teaching experience is far better than the traditional student teacher model." Researchers at St. Cloud State University, where co-teaching was pioneered, define it as two teachers working together with groups of students and sharing the planning, organization, delivery, and assessment of instruction as well as the physical space. Dr. Phyllis Bussing, instructor and director of special projects for the Department of Teacher Education, said the new model is the first significant change to student teaching in 80 years. "I hope that all school corporations in our area will want to take on this new model," she said. "It is 'best practice' and provides many benefits for all involved." Co-teaching is advantageous for classroom teachers who do not want to give up their classroom to a teacher in training. "Because of the high-stakes testing that is now required in all schools, some teachers are reluctant to take on a student teacher," Bussing said. "In the co-teaching model, the classroom teacher works with the student teacher in planning and implementing the lessons. They teach side by side." With co-teaching, an extra set of adult hands is available in the classroom. Data indicate that student-achievement scores increase with the co-teaching model. Jana Head, a teacher candidate co-teaching in fifth grade at Cynthia Heights Elementary School during the fall semester, said, "Co-teaching provides the opportunity to have smaller class sizes by using small-group instruction. Students who find a lesson challenging are offered time in a small group until they demonstrate comprehension of the strategies." Student teachers develop increased collaboration skills and confidence. "The co-teacher and teacher candidate plan together. The co-teacher is there as a guide to keep you on the right track," said Kearstyn Ritter. "They let you know what you need to emphasize and give you pointers about how to better approach a situation. There is a partnership in the classroom." Ritter was a teacher candidate in mathematics last semester at Daniel Wertz Elementary School. Bussing and Dr. Joyce A. Gulley, associate professor of teacher education and director of student teaching, conducted training sessions last summer that provided teachers and teacher candidates a chance to build a relationship before the co-teaching pilot program began. "The opportunity to get to know one another is critical," Bussing said. "Student teachers have many things to learn - curriculum, students, standards. If they haven't had this training and relationship building, they also are having to learn what the classroom teacher expects. The summer training gives them a head start." Training sessions to prepare classroom teachers and teacher candidates for co-teaching during 2011-12 will be held in July. Three two-day sessions are available. Classroom teachers must complete one two-day session to participate in co-teaching. Registration for the training will be available online in February. Representatives of several school corporations attended an informational dinner in November and have shown interest in co-teaching for the next academic year. Contact Bussing at pbbussing@usi.edu for additional information. To view a slideshow, click here. |
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