Curriculum requirements are causing more and more elementary teachers to hang up their multi-subject hats to embrace team teaching. Over the years I have seen teachers try two-way, three-way, and even four-way switching arrangements. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. It depends a lot on the team players. Are you a good fit? Do your ideals and philosophies match up? Do you work well together? Do you each have a subject area strength? Have you taught and do you understand the other subjects well enough to have a healthy respect for your team members? These are questions you should consider when planning to switch classes.
Tip 1: Rules, Procedures, & Routines
Life is easier when you are on the same page. Plan together and decide on rules, procedures, and routines. Talk about what is bothersome to you versus your team members. Expect a little give and take. If teacher A has major issues with kids bringing mechanical pencils, but it doesn't bother you, then consider giving in to this rule. You might be bothered by something else. If you are consistent across classrooms your students will fair better. This doesn't mean that you have to be exactly alike. Kids do need to learn how live within each classroom. Middle school is coming.
Tip 2: Switch on Time
Be respectful to your team members time and switch on time. If you are scheduled to switch at 10:00, then have your kids out the door and on their way to the next room at two minutes till. There is nothing worse than one class standing in the hall waiting for 10 minutes for the other class to get out. Not only does it waste instructional time, but it opens up opportunities for kids to misbehave while waiting.
Tip 3: Hold Parent Conferences Together
Never, ever meet with a parent without your team members. You can solve a lot of problems by meeting with parents together. Work out a system for scheduling conferences. If parents see that you are on the same page and are seeing the same behaviors in a student they will usually back down from an emotional argument. Stand together as a team and meet with parents as a team.
Tip 4: Community Supplies
Lighten the load your students need to carry around by taking up basic supplies (colors, glue, markers, etc.) and putting them together as community supplies. Help students organize a binder (every binder is the same) to keep their things together. An example: planner, conduct card, reading log, homework folder, subject sections.
Tip 5: Conduct & Behavior
Discuss conduct & behavior at length to determine how you will proceed. Come up with a mutually agreed upon plan. Keep your expectations on the same page and consistent.
Tip 6: Weekly Meetings
Plan to meet together to plan, discuss students, and solve problems. A team that plans together will get along better and things will go smoother. Emails and last minute changes can be frustrating for busy teachers. Try to work schedule issues out ahead of time. Talk about behavior plans for students with issues. Discuss how you will work together to motivate the reluctant student. Think of ways to challenge the gifted students. Consider where you curriculum meets. How can you work together to integrate your subjects? Planning is the key to success.
Tip 7: They Are All Your Kids
One thing that tends to happen is that homeroom teachers think of their class as just "their kids". Remember that all of the kids you teach are your kids. They are also all your team members kids. Don't think of them as the other teacher's class, but as one big class of students. You are sharing all of the kids with team members and they are sharing with you.
Tip 8: Professional Talk
Talk to each other. Don't let things simmer. If you are having issues with a team member, schedule a time to sit down and talk. Stay professional. Be very careful to keep your tone objective and explain your issues without offending the other teacher. For example: Your team member never lets class out on time. You feel as if you are wasting precious instructional time. Sit down and say, "I've noticed that we are switching later and later. This is making it hard for me to get everything in. Can we come up with a plan to make sure we switch on time?"
Tip 9: Give and Take
You cannot win every battle, or have everything your way. You must learn to give and take. This is the hard part of switching. You will have to compromise at times. Consider how important something is to you. Can you give it up? Can you see it through? Be honest in your discussions. Perhaps your team member comes up with something you think you could start, but honestly can't see yourself following through. Tell your teammate, "I'm not sure I can follow through on this and stay consistent. When things kick up later in the year and get busy I am afraid I will fall behind. How do you manage it? Will you get upset with me if I can't do it anymore? I'm willing to try, but I can't make promises." Let your teammate know what you can handle and what you don't think will work for you. Never start something you know you won't continue. On the other side of the coin, be open and willing to try new things. If they are not working for you, tell your teammates. Perhaps they have ideas that will help you, and possibly, they are ready to give it up as well.
Tip 10: The Kids Come First
As you work together to make decisions, always keep the kids at the front of your mind. They are first and last. We don't have to do things that are overwhelming for us, but we shouldn't do things that are overwhelming for the kids. Discuss everything from classwork to homework. Consider what they can do and what will motivate them to do more. Always ask yourself, "Is this best practice? Is this the best thing for kids?"
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