Co-Teaching for English Learners: A Guide to Collaborative Planning, Instruction, Assessment, and Reflection

by Maria G. Dove, Andrea M. Honigsfeld

Dove and Honigsfeld′s new book arrives at the perfect time as an increasing number of schools move to a collaborative instructional model and are searching for guidance. The authors not only tell us how to effectively collaborate and co-teach to benefit English learners, they actually show us what each component of the collaborative instructional cycle looks and feels like, complemented by innovative video and web content.

--DIANE STAEHR FENNER, Coauthor of Unlocking ELs' Potential and President of SupportEd


Because teacher collaboration isn't an option, it's a MUST!

The proof is borne out by any assessment: our non-native speakers learn faster and achieve more when general ed teachers and EL specialists co-plan and co-deliver instruction in the very same classroom. That's why you'll want to put Co-Teaching for English Learners at the top of your reading list. Step by step, EL authorities Maria Dove and Andrea Honigsfeld walk you through the entire collaborative instruction cycle, along with seven potential classroom configurations from which to choose.
Whether you're new to co-teaching or just see room for improvement in your practice, this practical handbook delivers every technique and tool you need to make the most of your collaboration, including video footage of co-teaching in action. Inside you'll find:

- In-depth profiles of the seven models, with detailed descriptions and analyses
- A review of advantages and challenges of each model's implementation
- Clear explanations of each teacher's role along with self-assessment tools
- Tried-and-true strategies for the entire instructional cycle: co-planning, co-instruction, co-assessment, and reflection
- Real-life accounts from co-teaching veterans

Long gone are the days when our ELs are taught in isolation--and rightfully so. Read Co-Teaching for English Learners , implement its strategies, and soon enough you, too, can set up a learning environment in which all students thrive.

Genres: Education, Teaching

312 pages, Paperback

First published May 29, 2016

Reviews

[Carolina]

This book was straightforward about the co-teaching models suggested to use. I like the visuals provided that supported the models. Additionally, concepts within the book were supported by actual video clips. All I had to do was scan the QR code found on the page. This just reinforced what I read and gave me a better picture of each model. The people in the videos are real teachers in the filed. Another plus was the pros and cons about each co-teaching model. If you are trying to become the best co-teacher this book is a must read!

[Alli Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Co-Teaching for English learners demonstrates the importance of co-teaching for English learners by presenting the collaborative instructional cycle which is co-planning, co-teaching, co-assessment, and co-reflection. The book provides information for all 4 parts of this collaboration with different ways to implement them into your classroom. The book provides its readers with advantages and challenges that co-teachers will face in the 7 models of co-teaching. The 7 models show the different configurations that the class can be broken up into, and how to use the two teachers' expertise in different ways. I appreciated the many strategies that the book provided to implement these 7 models into my classroom. The authors demonstrated low preparation and more lengthy preparation strategies that novice co-teachers and more advanced co-teachers could incorporate into their classrooms. These strategies will help co-teachers at any level see the benefits to this collaborative instructional cycle and how to integrate them into a classroom with English learners who have varied proficiency levels. This book will help co-teachers develop a plan to work together, implement that plan, assess their students, and then reflect on their teaching through theory, practice, and implementation strategies along with accounts from co-teachers who are currently using this collaborative instructional cycle in their classrooms. I highly recommend this book to all current and future teachers of English Language Learners.

[Donald Shropshire · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a textbook loaded with ideas and recommendations about co-teaching English Language learners. Besides the seven modes of coteaching covered, the textbook spends considerable time detailing the challenges faced by non-English speakers in United States classrooms. As the title would indicate, a co-taught classroom is the most effective means by which ELs will acquire English as well as the content required according to state level content standards.
In addition to this core message, the book provides scores of graphic organizers and recommendations for teachers to make the most of their co-planning time and their co-assessment of student progress and their own efficacy in achieving the objectives of the lesson. For someone new to co-taught classrooms and to teaching ELs, this book could be a comprehensive resource for optimizing lessons and strategies as well as gaining an appreciation for the challenges faced by English Language Learners. For someone with experience in these classrooms, this book could also be a place that houses many of the diverse strategies acquired through earlier education, professional development and live, classroom teaching.

[PETER CAMPISI · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for new and experienced teachers! It provides practical models for teachers to incorporate into their practice. If you are a new ENL teacher and you are unsure of your role and place in an integrated class, this book establishes a clear collaborative mindset all teachers need to have. If you are an experienced teacher, you be may challenged to re-think the relationship you have with an ENL teacher, and how you plan and deliver lessons in your content area.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-organized text that has a great balance of theory and practicality with tons of helpful resources/templates. I can't wait to start co-teaching this year using the foundation this book gave me!

[Barbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping for something more in-depth on best practices to support ELs and this was not it. So this was not for me, but it was a straightforward, easy to implement guide that would be useful to educators who are developing co-teaching and assessment practices for EL students.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’ve never co-taught before, this book will be very helpful. If you have co-taught, it’s mostly information you already know but with ELL focused instruction instead of SpEd. I don’t feel like it have me much new information.

[Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good info. Great, practical ideas based on experience and research. Was excellent to get to hear/meet Honigsfeld in person. Caring, knowledgeable, understanding educator.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book much like a devotional as I am presently an EL coach serving three schools. This book helps to explain the creation, dynamics, and support of an EL coaching program. The book is divided into several sections, so if an educator wanted to focus on one skill, such as classroom dynamics or curriculum, teachers could pursue those articles. I appreciated that this is a collection of chapters by teachers and administrators rather than a rule book. The educators advise rather than instruct, for no program is perfect. The book helped me understand areas in which I can aid my teachers, but the limitations that I have in their classrooms.