The questions on this checklist are designed to be used by teachers, coaches, or mentors working as partners in co-teaching or demonstration teaching situations. Ideally, the partners should get together for an informal discussion of the questions before work begins. Addressing these issues in advance helps ensure good communication and shared understanding of goals and work styles throughout the collaboration.
- What content should each of us teach? What materials are needed for that content? Where are they in the room?
- What schedule makes sense for our work together? How flexible are we each when it comes to scheduling?
- What previous experiences do we each have with co-teaching?
- What concerns do we each have about co-teaching?
- How will we share or keep track of materials from other classrooms or the library used in our teaching?
- How will we take notes or observe each other?
- How and when will we find time for debriefs?
- How will we keep records of shared teaching?
- Who responds to what student work?
- What differences are there in our beliefs about evaluating and responding to student work?
- What differences do we have when it comes to personal preferences for work outside normal school hours?
- What differences are there in our systems or organizations for planning?
- What differences do we have when it comes to personal preferences for neatness?
- How would we each describe our sense of humor?
- Are there work spaces for each of us?
- What is shared space in the classroom, and what is off limits?
- What areas of the classroom need some rearrangement in order for us to teach together? Why?
- If the school doesn’t provide the materials we need to teach, what are some ways to get them?
