We have had several models of team teaching occur throughout the elementary school over past years. Team teaching is when a team of teachers work with a group of students, and share responsibility for their overall learning growth. One of our team teaching models is when 2 homeroom teachers share a group of students. The physical structure is typically two full-sized classrooms with part of a separating wall removed for greater flexibility and student movement.
Team teaching provides the same high quality learning, exposure to the same curriculum, access to resources, and individualized attention given to other students in the grade level. We have found that among other positive results, team teaching can support a greater variety of structures to enable more targeted learning instruction at all levels. It has been a model that educators have successfully used for many years in schools, and is considered a researched-based “best practice” when implemented well. Additionally, it reflects current configurations in many international and national classrooms across the globe.
This year we have gathered survey data from teachers, parents, and students in the homeroom team taught classroom, and the data has been overwhelmingly positive and supportive. Next school year, we will expand our successful models to have a few more of the team taught classrooms throughout the elementary school.
The class placement process will not change as a result of having more team taught classrooms. A group of counselors, teachers, and admin will work together to carefully place each child in a “best fit” situation, and all classrooms will continue to have outstanding teachers and exceptional environments for learning.
