# 4 steps to preparing for a co-taught CLASSROOM OBSERVATION

1. **Have a pre-observation conference** with your administrator, if possible. Discuss with the administrator your joint philosophy of co-teaching and what they should expect to see during the observation.

2. **Provide resources**: If co-teaching is new to your administrator, consider providing a book or other resource about co-teaching that is specifically aimed at administrators.

3. **Share your lesson plan**: Provide your administrator with a copy of your lesson plan. Even if you don't always write out a full and complete plan, create one for your observation.

4. **Engage in post-lesson reflection**: Reflect with your co-teacher. Be ready to tell your administrator what went well, what did not work as planned, and what you might change in the future.

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# Classroom management questions co-teachers should discuss

- What will our policies be for gum, food, and drink in class?
- What will students be expected to have in front of them (e.g., pencil sharpened, paper out, book out, warm-up activity complete) when the bell rings?
- How will we communicate our policies to the students?
- What will consequences be for inappropriate behavior?

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# Questions about communication co-teachers should discuss

- What will our regular schedule for detailed planning or discussions be?
- How is it best to get last-minute information to each other?
- Can we communicate via e-mail? Telephone calls at home?
- How will we interact with parents? As a team? Separately? As requests come in?
- How will we deal with and communicate issues such as students who are not performing well or who need extra help?
- On what kinds of decisions should we always consult each other?
- How will we avoid students asking one of us a question, then going to the other if they don't like the first answer?