Coteaching & Coinstructing
The Benefits of Coteaching & Coinstructing
Coteaching Definition
Through the coteaching model, the cooperating teacher (CT) and teacher candidate (TC) are both engaged in student learning, at all times, through daily coplanning, coinstructing, and coassessing. Through the coteaching process, reflective dialogue and collaboration has the potential to lead to the professional development of both teachers.
The Role of Coinstructing in Coteaching
Coinstructing sees coteachers mutually engaged in the instructional delivery of content with clearly defined roles and responsibilities. The six instructional strategies coteachers can use include:
One Teach, One Observe
One Teach, One Assist
Team Teaching
Parallel Teaching
Station Teaching
Differentiated Teaching
To learn more about these six strategies, please review the SOE's Coinstructional Strategies information sheet. You can also view the sample video below that highlights the coinstructional strategy of team teaching.
Benefits of Coteaching
Benefits of using the coteach model include:
Two content-strong adults in the classroom
Lower student-to-teacher ratio
Scaffolded experience for teacher candidate to learn about teaching
New ideas generated through collaboration
Ability to reflect together since both coteachers experience the same lesson
Tips for a Successful Coteaching Experience
To have a successful coteaching relationship, the CT and TC should:
Meet weekly and stay connected
Be intentional and establish a routine
Determine what the role of each coteacher will be in all aspects of teaching (planning, instructing, assessing) and how these roles will evolve/transition throughout the clinical practice
Address and assess student needs and accessibility to curriculum/resources
Regularly share successes and areas needing improvement
Examples of Coinstructing in the Classroom
Additional Resources
Online Articles and Documents
Coteaching Video Collection: The coteaching video collection website contains over 40+ video clips (and growing) showcasing exemplar coteaching, representing a variety of grades and disciplines. Coteachers can view these clips together, reflect on their own coteaching practice, and set goals for enhancing their collaboration as they learn together and support the learning of PK-12 students
Implementation of Coinstructing Tool: This document provides characteristics of effective coinstructing in a clinical practice placement.
