Co-Teaching, Huh?

Last year, I lived and taught in New Jersey for one year only.  Prior to that, I'd gotten my teaching certificate and taught for 3 years in Washington State, just outside of Seattle.  While in New Jersey, finishing up the year in an Inclusion / Resource long term sub position I was searching for jobs back on the West (best) Coast.  I had a great Skype interview with a staff team and new-to-the-school principal at a middle school that really only needed a half time Resource Teacher and offered me a full time position, encouraging me that we would work out something great!  They suggested I might be part of some new building-wide initiatives, mentioned a brand new EBD teacher who might benefit from some support (my first 3 years were in a self-contained, middle school EBD program), or, maybe, whatever I wanted! 

I didn't quite believe that "whatever I wanted" part but the group seemed enthusiastic, and it sounded like a lot of "NEW" energy and "NEW" programming and I felt that I might have a lot of opportunities there.  So I accepted!

A few weeks before school started, I was still in New Jersey and got my new principal on the phone to find out what I'd be doing.  I had spent the summer pinning and dreaming, but felt relatively directionless.  The district had just held a training on this NEW thing:  Co-Teaching!  The Special Educators, General Educators and administrators who participated in the training were super enthusiastic and ready to test out this new model right away.  I found out that I would be partnered with one each of 7th grade and 8th grade Language Arts / Social Studies teachers.  We would co-plan and co-teach however we wanted, once we got together.

OK!

This sounded quite exciting!  I am trained and certified as a Special Education teacher.  I did not come from a General Education background, I've worked with kids and adults with disabilities for years but haven't spent a lot of time in Gen Ed classes since my high school days.  As a Special Ed teacher, I've been in and out of other teachers' classrooms, of course, especially during my Inclusion days.  But I recall being a brand new teacher and wondering, "how are the Gen Ed teachers handling this topic?"  And I really didn't know much about that.  So, co-teaching sounded like a great way to learn first hand how subjects are typically taught which would benefit me and my future students greatly.

I was also excited because I think more students should be included in main stream classes more often and for more time.  Just MORE!  I would have the opportunity to support struggling learners alongside other kids.  Our Special Ed students would have the opportunity to participate with their peers in the least restrictive environment.  I could instruct students in learning and studying strategies that would reach many more students than in a Resource Room setting.  This sounded GREAT!

Of course, it also sounded really vague.  And I didn't know who my co-teachers were.  I did know that one of them didn't know yet that we would be co-teaching. (And didn't find out until days before school started, one of the problems with lots of NEW stuff happening at a school at the same time, I guess.)  I didn't know how I would co-plan with 2 teachers (one of whom does not have a common planning time with me.)  I set out to read up on the topic, so at least I finally had a bit of direction to my Pinterest routine.

What's NEW at your school this year??