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Co-Teaching: Our Guide to Thrive

            Ta Feiter
                 &
          Annie Ven Rooy

Co-Teaching vs Team Teaching
      Team Teaching                       Co-Teaching

• Coordinated teaching by a       • When a general education
  TEAM of teachers working          teacher and the special
  together                          education teacher
                                    participate in:
                                     – lesson or activity planning
• Lessons are usually delivered        together
  individually                       – working together in the same
                                       classroom at the same time 
                                     – instructing both students with
                                       and without disabilities

Let’s Start from the Beginning…
         Total Strangers!
Mrs. Ta Feiter               Mrs. Annie Ven Rooy

 Actually, call me "Frau“   • Don't mind the
                               stutter
 From German to
  Literacy and Social
  Studies                    • From severe CD to
                               SLD
 My very own
  classroom?!

•   The Oshkosh Area School District
Merrill Middle        is the 10th largest school district
   School             in Wisconsin
Our Second Home
                  •   1 of 5 middle schools in the
                      Oshkosh Area School District
                       – Most diverse population
                         including Hispanic, Asian,
                         American Indian, and Black
                         students

                  • Current enrollment: 465
                  •   60% of Merrill is categorized as
                      being economically disadvantaged
                       – 47.9% of Merrill Students
                         qualifying for free lunch which is
                         the highest socioeconomic need a
                         family can be categorized.

                  •   Service all disability areas
                       – 19% of student population are
                         categorized as having a disability

Merrill Middle School
  Our Second Home

                        • PBIS (Positive Behavior
                          Interventions and Support)
                           – R-E-3
                              • Respect Education
                              • Respect Environment
                              • Respect Everyone

                        • Our school goal is
                          focused on maintaining
                          positive relationships
                          with all students that
                          enter our building

Our Class
• 6th grade literacy
  – 100 minutes a day
      (it ends up being 4
       glorious sections
           together!)

• Righters and Minions
     • R = 9/25 identified
       students
     • M = 5/23
       identified students

Inclusive Philosophy
Our school strives to include students in their least
restrictive environment.
Students are included as much as possible!

Person First Language
    Say:                                       Instead of:
•    Children with disabilities            •    Handicapped or disabled
•    Cognitive disability                  •    Mentally retarded
•    Has autism                            •    Is autistic
•    Uses a wheelchair                     •    Confined…wheelchair bound
•    Receives spec ed services             •    Special ed student
•    Congenital disability                 •    Birth defect
•    Accessible Parking                    •    Handicapped Parking

                                      Taken from:
                   Best Practices for Inclusive Education Conference
                                    in Wausau 2013

Guide to Thrive (NOT Survive)
• Thrive vs Survive
• We are NOT experts
  – Very aware we are Lucky
• Constant state of change

• Questions?? PLEASE ask, though we
  don’t guarantee a perfect answer 

Tip 1: Embrace It!
• I have to co-teach!?
  –   How will I have time?
  –   What if we don’t get along?
  –   We have different philosophies!
  –   What about MY classroom?

• The outcome is the SAME!
  – SUCCESS for students!

• Let go of some control…easier said than
  done!

Tip 2: Arranged Marriage
• Think about how much time you spend collaborating with your
  significant other
   –   What’s for dinner?
   –   Who’s picking up the kids?
   –   Did you call the tax place?
   –   Is the laundry changed over?
   –   Dishwasher empty?

• Co-Teaching isn’t much different!

• United Front
   – If you don’t like the answer one gives you, don’t bother going to the
     other

• It’s OK to need your ‘alone’ time too.

Tip 3: Honesty
• Sometimes it hurts…
  – You CAN’T take it personally

• It’s OK to just go with it

• Hate a lesson? Love a lesson? Want to
  add to a lesson?
  – SPEAK UP

Tip 4: Sharing
• “MY” classroom must become
  “OUR” classroom
• Shared Responsibilities
   – Shine where you shine!
   – Copies, lesson planning,
     lesson preparation, taking
     the lead
• Shared time
• Shared success
• Our Syllabus

Special Ed ?
• Students don’t know about the “Special Ed” part
• All modifications are built into our everyday
  activities
   • Color coding
   • Directions broken into smaller pieces
   • Expectations stated multiple times
• Push-in model for inclusion
• Students are only pulled out when absolutely
  necessary
   • Small group may include students without IEP
• Helping ALL students…not just the ones that are
  “yours”

Tip 5: Collaboration
• Share ideas with:
  – Each other
  – Team of teachers

• Add your personalities together, don’t
  become one

Tip 6: Flexibility
• Life happens
  – Putting out fires

• Be ready for change

• Modifications

Tip 7: Commitment and Support
• Unfortunately planning time isn’t always
  shared
  – Before school
  – After school
  – Lunches
• We CHOOSE to make a commitment
 to our shared classroom

Tip 8: LAUGH
• Share who you are
  – We share the good and the bad
  – Strengths and Weaknesses
  – Tell Stories

• Embrace the flops

Tip 9: Be Appreciative
• Tell your co-teacher you appreciate
  them
  – If you DON’T appreciate them, and you
    don’t share why, it won’t work

Tip 10: Clear Expectations
• Common Goals

• Same Team

• Classroom Matrix

Contact Us
Thanks for joining us today.

• Feel free to contact us with questions or comments
• Andrea.venrooy@oshkosh.k12.wi.us
• Ta.feiter@oshkosh.k12.wi.us
• Merrill Middle School 920-424-0177