Section 2: Models of Co-Teaching
The Six Models of Co-Teaching
Scholars describe six different approaches to co-teaching: (1) One Teach/One Observe; (2) One Teach/One Assist; (3) Team Teaching; (4) Station Teaching; (5) Parallel Teaching; and (6) Alternative Teaching. These can be used both in mentor/mentee partnerships and in partnerships among classroom teachers and specialists. Here we provide a brief definition of each:
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One Teach/One Observe
One teacher instructs while the second teacher observes or collects data.
One Teach/One Assist
One teacher leads the instruction while a second teacher circulates to provide assistance.
Team Teaching
Two teachers work collaboratively to deliver the same content to the whole group.
Station Teaching
Each teacher leads a distinct station while all children rotate through all stations.
Parallel Teaching
Each teacher teaches the same content, but the class is split in half to allow for differentiated instruction.
Alternative Teaching
One teacher leads a whole class lesson while a second teacher pulls a small group for additional support or review.
Regardless of model and teacher specialization, a key aspect of co-teaching is that teachers rotate within the roles of a given model. In other words, the same teacher should not always be in the ‘lead’ in a co-taught environment.
Co-Teaching Model Examples
Click to play each embedded video directly on this page, or select to view other playback options. Watching all seven videos should take approximately 20 minutes.
Co-Teaching Overview
To develop a more thorough understanding of how co-teaching might look in mentoring teacher candidates, watch each of the short videos here. While each of these videos features elementary teacher candidate, the co-teaching approaches modeled in each video can be applied to teacher candidate/mentor teacher partnerships across licensure areas and to co-teaching partnerships across PK-12 classroom contexts.
As you watch the videos, consider how each might apply to your own mentoring situation and/or classroom setting.
One Teach/One Observe
One teacher instructs while the second teacher observes or collects data to be used following the lesson.
One Teach/One Assist
One teacher leads the instruction while a second teacher circulates to provide instructional and/or management assistance.
Team Teaching
Two teachers work collaboratively to deliver the same content to the whole group at once.
Station Teaching
Each teacher leads a distinct station while all children rotate through all stations.
Parallel Teaching
Each teacher teaches the same content, but the class is split in half to allow for differentiated instruction.
Alternative Teaching
One teacher leads a whole class lesson while a second teacher pulls a small group for additional support or review.
Permission to use content above granted, 2022
Optional: Want to learn more? Click here for more examples of co-teaching in action.
Pause & React
Directions: Consider the six models of co-teaching illustrated above. Which model(s) have you used in your classroom? Which model(s) might work best in your classroom as you mentor a new teacher or teacher candidate? Use the survey below to indicate which model(s) you've used, if any, and which you can envision using in your classroom. Select "Submit" at the bottom of the survey to submit your answers before moving to the next section.
