Successful Co-Teaching in the Science Classroom

Anne Luca

CO

Forbes, L. "Successful Co-Teaching in the Science Classroom." Science Scope 36.1 (2012): 61-64.

Summary
This article went over different strategies for co-teaching. While co-teaching may sound like there is only one method, there are actually several different strategies that teachers can use to co-teach. Teachers can choose to do what is called "station teaching", which means that students go to one teacher to learn about a specific subject, and the other teacher to learn a different one. Another method mentioned was "lead and support", which is essentially what it sounds like. One teacher will choose to lead the other will provide support, and preform the role of more of a floating helper. "Parallel" teaching was another method which was mentioned. This one did not necessarily involve the teachers working as a team, but rather dividing the students into smaller groups. All of these methods were found to be particularly helpful in the sciences, to the point that the author stated that what is most important is that the teachers agree on one method, and stick with it, rather than change constantly

Evaluation:

For me, this was one of the more clear articles I could find in co-teaching. It also really resonated when it spoke about station teaching. This was actually a model that three teachers used when I was in elementary school. I would have one my teachers taught science and social studies, another taught English, and lastly one taught us how to do math. This was actually a really great way the teachers were able to divide the class because this was when my elementary school had decided to combine 4th and 5th grade. The teachers decided this was a good method to make sure that both age ranges got the attention they deserved. It also was supposed to prepare us for middle school, where we would always be changing classrooms to go to other teachers. As a student, I really liked this method, and it made things much easier for me to learn.