TL;DR:
- A meeting at Starbucks led to a successful two-year co-teaching partnership.
- Building a strong co-teaching relationship involves getting to know each other, honest communication, and respecting boundaries.
- Key tips include spending time together, maintaining open communication, setting boundaries, enjoying laughter, and reflecting on practice.
We decided to meet at Starbucks on that warm summer day. We were still unsure what to expect and uncertain about this new position we were both entering. I would begin my 28th year of teaching and knew my path was changing. I knew that I would no longer be making all the decisions in the classroom and that I would have a partner to conquer all the chaos that a classroom brings. But that knowledge brought a bit of anxiety about this unknown adventure of co-teaching that we were about to embark on.
Initially, we felt awkward and nervous as we sat at the table looking at each other, but those feelings subsided as we began to chat. She told me about her anticipation of our partnership and anxiety about this new endeavor. I found myself reassuring her and doing my best to cast a positive light on our new relationship. Our conversation jumped right into how we would triumph through this challenge effectively. Thankfully, we did, and as of now, we have completed two successful years as co-teachers.
When my co-teacher and I started working together, we had never met and thus knew nothing about each other. Our years of experience were 20 years apart. She came from a middle school background, and my 28 years were in elementary. There were a lot of odds against us in terms of how successful we could be as co-teachers. But we managed to figure it out, and two years later, we built a strong foundation for a partnership that is still evolving.
However, teachers who are in the same situation may be asking how. How did we get to this point?
5 Tips for Building a Strong Co-Teacher Relationship
1. Take Time to Get to Know Each Other
From that day in Starbucks, we spent extended time learning about each other. Not only did we inquire professionally but also personally. In a co-teaching environment, you will be spending countless hours with the other person; it is difficult not to know them on a personal level.
Spend time with each other before school and after school. Treat one another to a coffee. Learn about each other’s interests and families. Pick a day during the week to get off campus and grab lunch. It allows you time to talk both about school and home.
Find ways to connect. Even though my co-teacher and I are of different ages, we have many things in common, and we rely on those things as we continue building our relationship.
Developing a co-teacher relationship is like building a relationship with your students. As you build those student-teacher relationships, you also establish trust. In this relationship, the same is needed. The stronger the bond, the more successful the partnership is.
When there is a classroom with a solid co-teacher partnership, students will thrive. Click To Tweet2. Honest Communication
My co-teacher and I do not agree on everything, but we know how important it is to communicate honestly. This partnership is not easy; you give up a lot when you teach alongside someone. Honest communication must be the foundation of this relationship. So, sometimes, you may have to step out of your comfort zone and embrace the conflict brewing. It is also essential to make sure you are actively listening in those critical conversations. Each person needs to know that they are being heard. Communication that exudes empathy, kindness, and honesty helps to build a lasting partnership.
3. Respect Boundaries
Boundaries are important in any relationship. In this relationship, it is essential to respect each other’s boundaries and give each other physical or emotional space.
Physical Boundaries: If you share a classroom, you both need your own space. There should be a space specific for each teacher: a spot where they can sit and work, a place where they can store their things, and a space where they can take ownership. Everyone needs to feel like they have an equal share in the classroom.
Emotional Boundaries: Not everyone is the same. As you get to know your co-teacher, you will learn when to give them space. Sometimes, we have bad days, and we all react to them differently. Establishing healthy emotional boundaries with each other is essential so each person feels safe and secure in their space.
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4. Enjoy Laughter Together
The moments we enjoy the most in our classroom are when we can laugh, whether at ourselves, each other, or the situation. We all know that our days do not always run accordingly in the classroom, and there can be moments, even days of chaos, but also days of pure joy. But laughter helps to lighten the mood, especially in stressful situations. I can think of countless times when my co-teacher and I just look at each other and laughter will ensue. It helps us not to take things so seriously; we can create a little joy in each moment.
5. Reflection
Reflecting on your practice helps in the co-teacher relationship. It allows one to see where one’s strengths lie as a co-teacher and individual. It also enables the co-teachers to modify and adjust instruction and reflect on what worked and what didn’t. Reflection benefits the open communication that is so important in this partnership.
It should be done frequently throughout the year as co-teachers build and work to improve their practice and relationship.
In my co-teaching partnership, we reflect several times during the year, but the reflection time I have found most beneficial is at the end of the year. On our last day before summer break, we sit down and reflect on all areas of our year: the curriculum, class management, parent communication, grading, and co-teaching. We reflect and look at what worked, what we want to continue, what did not work, and how we want to change things. This sets us up for when we return in August. We use those reflections to begin our planning for the new year.
Co-teaching is a beautiful experience, but it takes time to build a strong relationship with each other. It takes effort on both sides and a willingness to be vulnerable and to grow.
When there is a classroom with a solid co-teacher partnership, students will thrive.
About Bridget Gengler
Bridget Gengler is a fourth grade teacher in Long Beach, California. She has taught bilingual education, general education, and GATE for the past 26 years. She’s passionate about building relationships and a strong classroom community that opens up doors of success for her students. She strives to empower all students to share their voices and their stories. Her class motto is “ You matter! You are important! You have a story to tell and we want to hear it!” She brings her love of reading and writing to the classroom in the hopes that it will promote lifelong readers and writers.
Bridget believes that self-care is essential in an educator’s life. She takes time to focus on gratitude, mindfulness and kindness during the day. She contributes this balance to her success in the classroom.
Family is number one for her! Her most precious job is being a mom to four young adults, an energetic lab puppy, and a wife to a wonderful husband. When she is not teaching, writing or reading she is creating memories with them. They love to travel, discover new restaurants, and watch professional baseball.
