1. Gartening Together … With material adapted from: Frameworks for Collaboration. by Faye Brownlie and Randy Cranston Presented at Changing Results for Young Readers Provincial Conference, August 27th, 2013.

2. Why Collaboration/Co- teaching? “Based on the belief that collaborative planning, teaching and assessing better addresses the diverse needs of students by creating ongoing effective programming in the classroom It allows more students to be reached” Learning in Safe Schools, page 102 Chapter 9

3. Guiding Questions 1.What is the most effective use of teacher time to support the mutually agreed upon goals of student learning? 2.How can we make use of each of our knowledge and expertise? 3.How can we connect learning experiences with the learning environment?

4. Strengths least planning Increase focus, 1:1 feedback opportunities for students if alternate roles, no one has the advantage or looks like the ‘real’ teacher can capitalize on each teacher’s strengths and build professional capacity Pitfalls o easiest to go off the rails and have one teacher feel as an ‘extra pair of hands’, no specific task (buzzing radiator) Strategies  Alternate roles  Plan for targeted support

5. Strengths Half class size = more personal contact, more individual attention, and opportunities for student participation Can enable more hands on experiential learning activities Pitfalls more time to co-plan requires trust each must know the content and the strategies Strategies  Use a mix of familiar and new activities  Simple process, rich language

6. Strengths Each teacher takes responsibility for only one or two stations Can have mix of teacher involved and independent stations Pitfalls Need to teach process of moving between stations Opportunity to develop self-regulation Strategies  Heterogeneous groups for language development  Carry stations over multiple days  View stations as opportunities for choice

7. Strengths either teacher can work with either group can provide focused tutorial, intensive, strategy or knowledge support to groups Pitfalls Don’t want same kids in always in the “extra” group Should not reduce play opportunities for groups of kids Strategies  Link small and large group activities  Rotate turns in small groups

8. Strengths Most seamless because teachers take an equal role in the activity. Models cooperation Can be followed up by other co-teaching activities Two sets of eyes, ears and hearts to respond to moment by moment teaching opportunities Pitfalls Teachers are active, students are passive Requires trust, skill and familiarity with each other. Strategies  Useful in less teacher centred activities too.  Start manageable

9. Strengths Each contribute to planning rich language experiences teach in own classrooms Pitfalls Time to collaborate Let go of control to benefit from other teacher Strategies  Choose mutually interesting activity

10. Strengths Plan one activity, implement twice Build sense of community at a given grade level Pitfalls Time to make switch Scheduling mutually agreeable blocks of time Time to develop relationships with other students Strategies  Try a regularly scheduled time  Choose enrichment activities not curriculum subjects as focus

11. Strengths Students have a built in audience to share process and product with Opportunity for Peer-peer support Pitfalls Manage attention span during sharing opportunities Size of the group and ownership of the project Strategies  Aim to emphasize similarities and differences between projects