Inclusion and Teaching in Chicago

Yesterday, I saw a nice use of parallel instruction in Ms. L and Ms. K's co-taught second grade math class. They chose to use the parallel teaching model because they were introducing the metric system and had two meter sticks. Sometimes in teaching, decisions can be made for simple and practical reasons. Two meter sticks. Two teachers. Parallel instruction. Boom, let's go! Below you can see Ms. L's group on the front rug and Ms. K's at the side rug.     Ms. L used visual supports in her group. Check out the white board.   Ms. K's style was more kinesthetic. She asked students to stand up based on what their measurement estimation was. For example, "Stand if you estimated that the rug is 2 meters long." "Okay, sit down. Now stand if you estimated that the rug is 3 meters long.

I'm continuing with Julia's Rocking Co-Teaching Series . Click here to read more about team teaching. Okay, onto the next model! Model: Parallel Instruction Definition: "Teachers break the class into two heterogeneous groups and each instructs half of the class" ( Collaborative Teaching in Elementary Schools by Wendy W. Murawski ). What does it look like? Groups facing away from one another and teachers facing one another to limit distractions and noise Two teachers teach the same content in the same way OR  Two teachers teach the same content in a different way ( Collaborative Teaching in Elementary Schools by Wendy W. Murawski )  Notice how the two teachers are facing each other and the groups of students are facing away from one another. Both teachers are teaching the same content in the same way. Notice in this video the quick transition from full class to parallel instruction. The teachers are teaching the same content in a different ...