Episode Details

Anne Beninghof, a special education teacher turned consultant who still co-teaches part-time in Colorado, defines co-teaching as two or more adults instructing at the same time in a coordinated way. She tells principals how to pick partners, build a shared knowledge base and keep co-teaching teams from breaking up.

Her biggest warning is about time. Districts that don't sort out common planning time up front will never get co-teaching to work as well as it could, she says. She also covers the small chores, like who makes copies, that breed resentment, and why teams need a coach to help them have courageous conversations.

What you'll learn

• Build a shared picture of co-teaching with a book study or short video clips before you pair anyone.
• Let teachers volunteer or choose partners for a pilot, and look for flexible personalities.
• Schedule common planning time first, then say clearly that you expect teams to use it together.
• Have each team fill out a roles and responsibilities checklist, down to who makes copies and takes attendance.
• Give a coach or administrator a seat in planning sessions when a team struggles with a hard conversation.

Chapters

• 0:00 What co-teaching is: three parts
• 3:20 Anne's background in inclusion and co-teaching
• 7:23 Roles checklist for the little classroom tasks
• 9:06 Using paraprofessionals more fully
• 13:53 Introducing co-teaching and choosing partners
• 18:35 Common planning time and why teams skip it
• 20:44 Avoiding divorce through courageous conversations
• 23:25 Why co-teachers need a coach

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Questions this episode answers

What is co-teaching?
Beninghof defines co-teaching with three parts. Two or more adults are in the room, they teach at the same time rather than one waiting while the other lectures, and they plan together beforehand so the second adult has a clear, intentional role.

Can a paraprofessional be part of co-teaching?
Beninghof says two certified teachers are ideal, and districts may avoid the word co-teaching for paraeducators for legal reasons. She still uses the same process of naming strengths and roles, because most paraeducators are busy but underused.

What do you do when co-teachers are not getting along?
Beninghof tries to avoid ending the pairing, because it tells teachers to give up. She suggests coaching them through courageous conversations, since many teachers avoid conflict, and having a coach or administrator sit in on planning sessions.

About Anne Beninghof

Special education teacher and consultant who works with districts on co-teaching and inclusive practices and wrote Ideas for Inclusion.

Links and resources

• Ideas for Educators website
• Anne Beninghof on Twitter
• Anne Beninghof YouTube channel
• Rate on iTunes
• Rate on Stitcher
• Simple School Sites
• Jethro Jones on Twitter
• Transformative Principal on Twitter
• Communication Cards
• Show notes

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