One Teach, One Assist Strategy

Overview

• Primary Concept: One teacher acts as the primary educator, while the other supports learners.
• Roles: Primary teacher (mentor) and assisting teacher (resident).
  • Roles can be switched based on teacher strengths and lesson content.

Role of the Co-Teacher

• Responsibilities:
  • Monitor student work.
  • Address behavior issues.
  • Answer student questions.
  • Distribute materials.
  • Request clarification on student misconceptions.
• Adaptability: Depending on the classroom environment:
  • Behavior-focused classes: Keep students on task.
  • Engaged classes: Pose higher-level questions and encourage thoughtfulness.

Benefits of the Strategy

• Efficient Lesson Management: Helpful in managing materials in hands-on lessons and monitoring student learning.
• Enhanced Teaching Experience: Allows the primary teacher to focus on teaching without worrying about minor issues.
• Collaborative Environment: Mutual support between teachers enhances teaching effectiveness.

Lesson Planning

• Strategy: Review lesson content to determine who leads and who assists.
• Subject Division:
  • One teacher leads based on subject expertise (e.g., one in history, the other in science).
• Classroom Setup: Equal setup to emphasize both teachers' roles.

Classroom Dynamics

• Proximity Use: Utilized for monitoring student behavior and ensuring task completion.
• Understanding Checks: Ensure students grasp the material and are on the same task page.

Teacher Collaboration

• Mutual Support: Teachers back each other during lessons depending on who is leading.
• Lesson Experience: Frees the lead teacher to create a more immersive experience for students.