What is Co-Teaching?
Co-teaching for English as an Additional Language (EAL) students aims to support their journey toward achieving the English proficiency necessary to successfully engage with their mainstream studies alongside their peers. With this collaborative teaching model, EAL learners receive targeted in-class support to enhance their language skills while also participating in functional language extraction classes with their EAL teacher.
These in-class and pull-out classes follow a structured curriculum designed to equip learners with age-appropriate language skills that may not be addressed in mainstream instruction. This dual approach is crucial, as it ensures that EAL students not only develop a strong, functional grasp of English but also build the confidence needed to thrive in an inclusive educational environment.
EAL students receive tailored support while participating in mainstream classes, improving their language skills within a relevant context.
A Guide for EAL Co-Teachers to Support English Language Learners.
What?
Shared Expertise
Combining strengths to tailor lessons that meet diverse learner needs.
Enhanced Support
EAL students receive tailored support while participating in mainstream classes, improving their language skills within a relevant context.
Enhanced Support
Co-teaching for EAL students offers personalized support, enhances language acquisition, improves engagement, fosters cultural inclusion, encourages collaborative learning, reinforces skills in context, combines the expertise of different educators, and promotes meaningful peer interaction, all contributing to a supportive and effective learning environment.
Co-Teaching Benefits
Why?
Effective Co-Teaching Approaches
Implement these teaching approaches alongside your EAL co-teacher to support English language learners in the mainstream classroom. Use them interchangeably based on the specific needs of the students. This will include updates based on global feedback.
Teaming
Students remain in a single group while the teachers co-instruct, integrating their contributions throughout the lesson. The EAL teacher may explicitly teach language concepts to enhance understanding.
Alternative Teaching
Most students stay with one teacher while the other instructor works with a small group for purposes such as reteaching, enrichment, assessment, or pre-teaching.
One Teach, One Assist
Station Teaching
Each teacher delivers a portion of the lesson at different stations, while independent work takes place at a third station. Students rotate through all stations, ensuring that both teachers interact with every student in the class. Typically, the EAL teacher will focus on specific language points.
One Teach, One Observe
Students stay in a single group, with one teacher leading instruction while the other interacts with students individually, addressing their questions, re-explaining concepts, and focusing their attention as needed.
Each teacher delivers a portion of the lesson at different stations, while independent work takes place at a third station. Students rotate through all stations, ensuring that both teachers interact with every student in the class. Typically, the EAL teacher will focus on specific language points.
Each teacher delivers a portion of the lesson at different stations, while independent work takes place at a third station. Students rotate through all stations, ensuring that both teachers interact with every student in the class. Typically, the EAL teacher will focus on specific language points.
Station Teaching
How?
Foster active engagement with diverse vocabulary and expressions, supporting learners in developing their language skills through meaningful interactions and immersive experiences.
Differentiated Instruction
Teachers can combine their expertise to design differentiated lessons that cater to various learning styles and language proficiency levels, ensuring all students are engaged.
Cultural Exchange
Co-teaching fosters an inclusive environment where diverse cultural perspectives are shared, enriching the learning experience for all students.
Increasing Confidence
EAL students gain confidence as they navigate the mainstream curriculum with the additional support of a co-teacher, leading to improved academic performance.
Collaborative Professional Development
Co-teaching encourages collaboration between educators, fostering professional growth and the sharing of effective teaching strategies.
Improved Social Integration
EAL learners benefit from enhanced social interactions with their peers, promoting friendship and teamwork, which can improve their overall school experience.