Co-Teaching Disadvantages
When two teachers work with students at the same time, the room can become excessively loud. Some learners may struggle to concentrate and learn independently, while others get assistance from teachers.
What is classroom noise! If your classroom is too noisy, it will be harder for many of your students to concentrate and learn effectively, even with assistance.
This is even more necessary when you’re co-teaching. You may discover that the other teacher's method of teaching a specific lesson engages students more than the method you used to teach that concept.
What is being flexible! All of teaching, in general, requires flexibility, but it’s even more necessary when you’re co-teaching. Remain open-minded to the ideas your co-teacher has for the classroom.
A co-teacher moving around the classroom during a lesson can capture the attention of easily-diverted students or cause self-conscious students to become disengaged in class discussions.
What is Distractions! It can become an easy distraction for some students when you have another teacher in the class helping them.
When these are not properly defined, additional problems and issues will arise.
What is clearly defined roles and responsibilities! Make sure both teachers agree on the splitting of responsibilities. You don’t want any preventable confusion to come up later on.
When a class includes students with special needs, it can be challenging to address the needs of students who meet but do not exceed grade-level requirements. Students who find the content accessible may not seek attention and may develop unrealistic impressions of their own abilities.
What is Concerns for typical students! Students who find the content accessible may not seek attention and may develop unrealistic impressions of their own abilities. This model can, potentially, stifle the most typical student who does not seek opportunities to excel.
This is the most crucial factor. Regardless of your methods or teaching styles, it is critical that you and your co-teacher do this. You don't have to be best friends at work, but you must get along for the sake of your students.
What is respect each other! If you don’t respect each other, how can you expect the students to respect both of you as authority figures?
Students may develop the impression that the presenting teacher has more power than the other if co-teachers adopt the approach of having one instructor circulate while the other teaches the lesson.
What is student impressions of teachers! These can become an obstacle in the classroom, as students may feel slighted if assigned to the less-active teacher during co-teaching models like station or parallel teaching.
If you let problems fester and never address them with your co-teacher, then neither you nor the students will benefit from being in a co-teacher classroom.
What is communicating! If you communicate with each other and are clear about the responsibilities of each person, you will be fostering the co-teaching environment you always dreamed of.
Students may become accustomed to one-on-one tutoring or re-teaching during class time as a result of the benefits of having a circulating teacher available to answer questions. Because of this expectation, students may not be able to become independent learners, which can lead to them getting anxious and second-guessing their work.
What is student expectations! The expectations can hinder students developing independent learning skills, as they are more accustomed to having a teacher suggest that they review certain questions or responses.
Co-teachers must do this together in order to have cohesive lessons and provide what is best for each student. But with everyone’s busy schedule, many co-teachers find it difficult.
What is co-planning! Co-teachers must plan together. The most common issue with implementing co-teaching effectively in schools is a lack of planning time. It is difficult for co-teachers to define roles, duties, and processes for their classroom without access to time outside of the classroom to collaborate and plan (learning check 1, page 53).