TL;DR: Regular weekly planning meetings and reflections enhance co-teaching effectiveness. Leveraging each teacher’s strengths creates a dynamic and supportive classroom environment. Standalone support classes complement co-taught sessions, providing tailored assistance to students. For the past twelve years that I have been teaching middle school English, I have worked with seven different co-teachers. Each is amazing and unique in their own … Read More
Building Strong Co-Teacher Relationships
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 … Read More
Using Data to Drive Instruction and Earn Merit Pay
TL;DR: Education data informs instructional strategies, tracks student progress, and enables personalized learning experiences. Teachers in our district can qualify for merit pay through programs like PEER, DESE, and District Merit Pay by effectively using data to improve student outcomes. Best practices include regular data collection, setting clear goals, engaging in professional development, collaborating with colleagues, and communicating with stakeholders. … Read More
Nurturing Co-Teaching Relationships
TL;DR: Successful co-teaching requires trust and shared expectations, developed over time through relationship building and communication. Regular co-planning sessions are essential for creating cohesive lessons and addressing student needs, ensuring both teachers are aligned and prepared. Implementing various co-teaching techniques, such as station teaching and parallel teaching, allows teachers to leverage their unique strengths and provide targeted support to students. … Read More
Lessons from ‘Life Under Pressure’ on Youth Suicide Prevention
TL;DR: Attending a talk at the 92nd Street Y, William Andresen discusses the book “Life Under Pressure” by Dr. Anna S. Mueller and Dr. Seth Abrutyn. The book explores the social roots of youth suicide and how community tragedies can lead to clusters of suicide. Andresen reflects on his own educational experiences, emphasizing the importance of building visible, tangible connections … Read More