St. Cloud State has created, implemented and researched a new approach to student teaching utilizing a co-teaching model. This innovative work was originally undertaken through a U.S. Department of Education Teacher Quality Enhancement Partnership Grant for $5 million awarded in 2003.

What is co-teaching?

Co-teaching is defined as two teachers working together with groups of students and sharing the planning, organization, delivery and assessment of instruction and physical space.

What co-teaching is NOT

• Simply dividing the tasks and responsibilities among two people.
• For example, co-teaching is NOT:
  • One person teaching one subject followed by another who teaches a different subject
  • One person teaching one subject while another person prepares instructional materials at the Xerox machine or corrects student papers in the teachers’ lounge
  • One person teaching while the other sits and watches
  • When one person’s ideas prevail regarding what will be taught and how it will be taught
  • Someone is simply assigned to act as a tutor

Introduction to Co-Teaching