Co-Teacher Toolkit

Co-Teacher Toolkit

As a Collaborative Teacher or Co-Teacher, you may go into multiple classrooms and various grade levels each day. This type of schedule has its advantages, but it also can be quiet a heavy load as far as planning is concerned. 
In my own experience, I have been in the shoes of the classroom teacher and the ESL teacher coming in to co--teach. In both cases there were times when planning together just wasn't possible. I found that having a toolkit with me was a lifesaver as I came into classrooms to serve students. ​

Why?
Students needs are best met in a small setting where they can receive targeted and focused instruction. This type of instruction can be tailored to meet their individual needs. We know that students benefit from staying in their classroom with their classmates. Gone are the days when we pull students out of the classroom to receive small group instruction. Having a Toolkit handy helps me have strategies at my fingertips to support students no matter what classroom I walk into. 

How?
So as I go into classrooms and work with students either in a small group or one-on-one, I am able to pull out my Toolkit as needed to address specific concerns on the spot. Let's say I'm in a 3rd Grade language arts/ reading block and the class is fully involved in their reading workshop. This is the time when I come in as a co-teacher everyday but I only have a short time in this class.  So I use this time to either confer individually with students or pull a small group of students who have similar needs. I can use my Toolkit to help me work with these students. For example, I may have noticed as I conferred one-on-one, that four of the students in the room were struggling with author's purpose. On a subsequent day, I can bring those four students together in a small group to target instruction using my Toolkit. I will conduct a short mini-lesson to review author's purpose and let them practice with my guidance/support using their own texts. At the conclusion of our small group, I may leave each of them with a small example of the anchor chart that I used during our lesson. 

What?
The Toolkit is a binder with dividers for subject/content areas. Inside each section are small instructional tools and mini anchor charts. The Toolkit includes anything and everything that may be helpful to me as I work with students I serve. It is a work in progress always. I am continually adding to it.

TIPS: I will tell you that I've seen various Toolkits and everyone's is different. You just have to make it your own. One thing I have learned through creating my own, is that I like having it in a binder with clear pocket shields. I like being able to add and move my charts and tools as well as being able to write on the clear shields.
Some people use the smaller binders. It's really up to you. I think they are cute, but I've not tried that type. 

So if you make one, take pictures and share it with us. @ValentinaESL I would love to see your Toolkit and hear how it's going. 

Resources:
Reading Strategies Book Study Guide, Jennifer Serravallo p. 13
​