Section 3: Co-Planning as a Key to Co-Teaching
Co-Planning Strategies
Effective co-teaching begins with co-planning. Co-planning is a shared, dedicated time to discuss
-
the objectives and activities
-
the co-teaching approach that will best serve the learners, and
-
the responsibilities of each person in the co-teaching team is key to co-teaching success.
Co-planning can take many forms and may include long range planning and short term, daily lesson planning. In addition, co-planning can involve mentor teachers and new teachers, mentor teachers and teacher candidates, and/or collaborative teams.
.png)
Regardless of format, there are a few strategies that can support co-planning. Murawski (2012) suggests the following:
-
Establish a regular meeting time
-
Select a distraction-free meeting zone
-
Build in ‘get to know each other time
-
Have an agenda
-
Determine roles/responsibilities
-
Share the workload
-
Note individual students’ needs
-
Time for reflection
-
Document planning efforts
-
Use a systematic planning template
Want to Learn More?
-
Watch this video discussion of strategies for both long term and daily co-planning.
-
Read Murawski’s “10 Tips for Using Co-Planning Time More Efficiently”
-
Listen to Angela Watson’s co-planning tips podcast.
-
Watch co-planning in action:
Note: Some resources listed here require creation of a free account to access.
Permission to use content above granted, 2022
-
Co-Planning for Student Success Considerations Packet (William & Mary)
-
Co-Teaching Lesson Plan Template (California State University)
-
Co-Planning Conversational Tool (mentorteachers.org)
Tools for Co-planning
Using structured approaches to co-planning can also support the process. The tools provided below, and many other tools widely available on the internet, can be particularly useful when co-planning with teacher candidates. By providing structure for discussing the planning process and protocols for assigning roles during instruction, co-planning tools scaffold teacher candidates into this key phase of the instructional process.
Permission to use content above granted, 2022

Connecting Co-planning and Co-teaching
As you are co-planning it is important to consider the model of co-teaching you will use during instruction. As you learned in the co-teaching introduction, there are 6 models of co-teaching. Think back to the videos from Module 3, Section 2. In what ways did you see co-planning informing the co-teaching?
Wondering what lessons are best for each model? Read this brief article for ideas as to when you might consider implementing each of the co-teaching models in your instruction!

Pause & Reflect
Directions: Pause and reflect on what you learned. Use the questions below to guide your thinking and record your thoughts in a private place you can reference later, such as a journal.
Take a few moments to explore the co-planning tools above. Which of these might be useful to you and your mentee as you begin co-planning and co-teaching together? How might the tools above assist you and your mentee in co-planning for any of the six co-teaching approaches (One Teach/One Observe; One Teach/One Assist; Team Teaching; Station Teaching; Parallel Teaching; and/or Alternative Teaching)?