Update on Team Teaching Modern Foreign Languages Alive Seminar Phil Fox & Susan Ormond susanormond@pdst.ie philfox@pdst.ie @PDST_Ireland #MFLAlive16

Todays Research Question?

Question Have you undertaken any Professional Development in relation to Team Teaching since you graduated?

What is Team Teaching?

TERMINOLOGY Co-operative teaching… Co-teaching… Collaborative teaching… Team teaching… ‘Team teaching is when two (or more) teachers share the instructional responsibility for a class, including planning and evaluation. They share the leadership of the class and responsibility for all students.’ County Cork ETB 2011). Team Teaching –Guidelines for Schools/ Colleges. Cork: County Cork VEC http://www.cocorkvec.ie/index.cfm/page/videos ‘The term “co-operative teaching” is used here to denote any arrangement whereby two or more teachers work together in a collaborative manner with a class of students who have diverse learning needs.’ DES (2007). Inclusion of Students with Special Educational Needs: Post Primary Guidelines. Dublin: The Stationery Office, p. 53.

Click here to see examples of each

1 3 5 2 4 6 7 Activity: Where do YOU stand? NO CHANCE I WONT USE IT! I’m not convinced team teaching is worth the effort I can’t see how I could use team teaching more often in current school system Team teaching provides a positive experience for my students Team teaching is a professionally rewarding experience I’m a convert to team teaching – Every class should be taught this way! 1 3 5 2 4 6 7 Or if you don’t want to choose any of the above, please create your own unique stance!

Team Teaching in Irish schools Team teaching , a practice schools want to introduce but don’t know how to (Shevlin et al., 2009) Team teaching under-researched in Irish context, especially in relation to process (Shevlin et al., 2009; Murphy, 2011) Low levels of professional collaboration in Irish schools (Hogan et al., 2007; OECD [TALIS], 2009; Gleeson, 2012) “...they [teachers] highlight the prevalence of professional insulation and isolation, as distinct from proactive professional co-operation, in the inherited cultures of post-primary education in Ireland.” (Hogan et al., 2007:34)

International perspective 52% had never received feedback on their teaching from other teachers/management 75% engaged in Team Teaching less than once a year (or never) 95% engaged in Teacher Observation less than once a year (or never) 18% had visited other teachers’ classrooms 7% had engaged in observation in other schools TALIS report (OECD, 2009)

Resources for Team Teaching

http://www.pdst.ie/teamteaching

Further Resources for Team Teaching Professional Development for Teacher http://pdst.ie/teamteaching Special Education Support Service (SESS) In-school seminars on team teaching Online application form Online team teaching course (currently being reviewed and updated) http://www.sess.ie/welcome-sess-elearning

Final considerations Start on a small scale and slowly to avoid over-load Setting up can take hard work, collaboration, open mindedness and dedication Be prepared for resistance among colleagues and, possibly, parents Leadership is crucial No single model of team teaching will automatically result in success for a given teaching situation Any team teaching programme must be customised to suit the curriculum, teachers and students Establish and communicate team expectations

Final considerations Certain key elements appear to be necessary for a successful team teaching programme: Compatibility of team members Shared responsibilities, commitment to team teaching and ongoing communication A keen interest in connecting the content or curriculum to real life A strong desire to ignite students’ thirst for knowledge Well defined programme goals and philosophies Well defined roles of teachers and administration

What are your next steps?

www.pdst.ie Username: Roll number Password: schoolsupport2016 In School Support www.pdst.ie Username: Roll number Password: schoolsupport2016

Thank You philfox@pdst.ie susanormond@pdst.ie

Team Teaching New Initiative 2015/16 First Irish Class filmed