One outcome of creating attendance centers among the elementary grades beginning this school year is the opportunity for teachers to work more closely together.
At last Monday’s USD 257 board of education meeting, first-grade teachers Sherise Maness and Bayley Linn demonstrated their cooperative effort of sharing teaching responsibilities in a combined classroom.
“We know this isn’t for everyone,” Linn said, “But for us, team teaching has allowed us to not only be more effective at instruction, but also to be a better support network for our students.”
Together, the two teachers have 38 students. There are six first-grade classes at Jefferson Elementary.
For Linn and Maness, the idea to team teach sprang up from their almost daily discussions during their planning time.
“We found out that we had similar teaching styles and began to corroborate our lesson plans,” said Maness.
“And that maybe one’s weakness may be another’s strength,” added Linn.
The two have tried the method on a limited basis and found success.
At Monday’s meeting, board members gave them approval to go full steam ahead with the method for next school year.
The two have a wealth of experience. As a former kindergarten teacher, Maness lists her strengths in animated literacy and phonics, reading and science. Linn is a former second- and third-grade teacher with a strong emphasis in technology, grammar and social studies. Both are pursuing master’s degrees, Linn in integrated technology and Maness in general elementary education.
The teachers alternate weeks between one being the leader of the lesson, and the other her assistant. Both learn the lesson plan, whether it be reading, science or math, but take different roles.
This method allows the primary teacher more time to delve more deeply into the subject, Maness said.
Most often, the assistant for the week serves as providing support for students struggling with the lesson or perhaps is needed to help with a behavioral issue.
“This way a teacher’s attention is not diverted by a disruptive student,” Linn said. “Sometimes you’re faced with the problem of do I take care of this student, or do I keep trying to teach to the rest of the class.”
Together, the teachers feel supported by each other to try new ideas.
Their classrooms incorporate creative seating arrangements including “wobble chairs,” that help the children get their wiggles out while staying at attention. The chairs were purchased through gifts and grants.
