Two heads are always better than one, and when it comes to the classroom, the idiom extends to a lot more than heads. Two pairs of hands, two sets of eyes and two different personalities can join forces, collaborate, and deliver focused, well-planned lessons and present them to smaller groups than if a teacher goes at it alone.
Table of Contents
- What is Parallel Teaching?
- The benefits of Parallel Teaching:
- Parallel Teaching Best Practices
- Common Challenges To Overcome
- Parallel Teaching FAQ
- Bonus Tips to make you a better parallel teacher
What is Parallel Teaching?
The Parallel teaching model is a collaborative approach where two teachers join forces and use their individual strengths and styles to plan a lesson. The class is split in half and taught the same material simultaneously. It comes with a multitude of benefits for both educators and students.
The benefits of Parallel Teaching:
Multiple Teaching Styles
Teachers have a unique way of planning and expressing themselves through their teaching. And children respond differently to different styles. So with two people approaching the planning and two teachers implementing it, you have double the creativity and opportunity to connect with the students.
Focused group
Smaller groups are more focused and allow the teacher to engage directly with each student more often. It also makes the teacher more aware of each student’s understanding. Some teachers choose to split the class in a way that allows learners with disabilities and challenges to receive higher-level support. Whether you divide the class this way or the learners with IEPs are split across the groups, they will receive more attention and support, regardless.
Comfort-level
While the two teachers work together to plan, they still have the autonomy and comfort level that comes from working separately and is true to their style. When teachers work this way over an extended period, they develop a system that ensures that each teacher takes control of the area in which they are most comfortable. In addition, the shared load gives more time and energy for creating knock-out lessons.
Identify
When a teacher works full-time with twenty students, she is far more likely to miss out on subtle signs that indicate a child may need support. This could be due to learning difficulties, a vision or hearing problem, or emotional issues resulting from external factors. Halve the number of students in her care, and they are twice as likely to identify issues. The other benefit in this regard is that, because they will rotate and spend equal time with all the children, the two teachers can confer and bounce their concerns off each other, which is a great help.
Variety/Diversity
When you have two minds designing lessons, both teachers offer their insights into how the students will react, and both bring ideas to the table. When the lesson is being delivered, various styles and methods are offered. A student who works with one teacher on any given day can look forward to a change in style the next day. If the smaller groups are formed randomly and regularly, the students also get to engage and connect with their peers in a more intimate setting and can do this with every classmate over time.
Classroom Management
All teachers know precisely which students should not be seated near each other, paired together or even within each other’s line of sight. When it comes to personal differences it is something that the teachers should help the students overcome. However, if the students are setting each other off, causing distraction and disruptions, it can make things a lot easier if the students in question are placed in different groups.
Parallel Teaching Best Practices
Co-Planning
The most significant advantage of Parallel teaching is that the teachers can come together and plan the lesson as a team. However, there is a difference between collaboration and teamwork. Teamwork implies working together towards a common goal, but collaboration means using each other’s strengths to achieve the best possible outcome. So, if one of the teachers is detail orientated, with a strong understanding of the curriculum standards, but the other is exceptionally creative and has a natural affinity for individualizing and recognizing each student’s needs, you have a dream team.
Coordination
Coordination is crucial to ensure that your lessons are in line with each other and that each group remains on the same page. If they get mixed up and placed in a new group, it doesn’t matter which teacher they are with for the day. If they are put with the teacher they had the day before, the teacher will pick up where they left off. If they are with the other teacher this time, she will begin from the same point anyway so that the student will stay on track.
Comfort Level
Don’t confuse comfort level and comfort zone. It would help if you got out of your comfort zone to thrive, but it is easier to do it at a comfortable level. So, embrace topics and methods you are unfamiliar with. You have support, so you have nothing to lose but do so in a way that will not leave you overly anxious.
Grouping students by academic profiles or behavior
Always make sure that the way you group your students serves them well. As I mentioned, there are many ways that the students can be grouped and several reasons. Many educators feel that the split should be random. However, at least in certain instances, it can benefit the students and teachers if the groups are created with a more specific agenda.
For example, when teaching a maths concept, some click and understand it the first time. Others need a bit more time. If the children are split this way, those who understand the concept quickly can engage in enrichment activities designed around the idea. They do not move on to the next concept, as both groups must be ready to do that.
However, they can engage in more advanced examples of the same concept, complete scavenger hunts, high-speed quizzes based on the concept, or any other form of enrichment. This allows the other teacher to slow down and ensure that the second group has a solid understanding of the concept before moving on.
Small Groups
Working with smaller groups is a teacher’s dream – it allows you to do much more and have much more fun than when dealing with a larger group. Take full advantage. Play games, use technology, go outside, and spend one-on-one time with each child wherever possible.
Common Challenges To Overcome
Cooperation
There needs to be clear communication and understanding between the two teachers to ensure everything runs smoothly. If the teachers don’t see eye to eye, even on a personal level, it can reduce the effectiveness of parallel teaching. There also needs to be cooperation from the students. Some may feel self-conscious and overwhelmed by the close attention and may withdraw.
Both teachers also need to be fully aware of what the other is doing, even if they are not physically present.
Content Competency
Both teachers need to be equally knowledgeable and confident in the content taught in each lesson. This ensures that neither group is disadvantaged by receiving instruction from someone less equipped than the presenter of the other group.
Pacing
Teachers must be well prepared and have the same expectation regarding how long it will take to complete a lesson. Extension activities are a great way to ensure that no group is left waiting for the other.
Flexible space
It can be claustrophobic and distracting if the space is too small. If the lessons are taking place in the same room, it must be big enough for both groups to be comfortable, without distracting each other.
Noise level
It’s essential to keep the noise level to a minimum to avoid the groups distracting or overpowering each other.
Student expectations
Parallel teaching is only recommended for about 30 to 40% of teaching time. Some children thrive in this situation, but it can be difficult for them to cope when the class is together as a group. They may feel less confident interacting, expect more personal attention when they have questions, and struggle to become independent.
Parallel Teaching FAQ
There are benefits for the teachers and the students. The teachers can combine their ideas and experience, taking the best each has to offer and forming one lesson they teach separately. The students benefit by having the opportunity to be taught in smaller groups, gaining more one-on-one time with their teacher and more opportunities for engagement.
Parallel teaching should take up between 30 and 40% of teaching time and is best kept for introducing new concepts or covering intensive, content-heavy areas.
The groups are fluid, and students are not relegated to a specific group and teacher each time. Students with disabilities receive a high level of support. However, there is no stigma or label attached, as they are not singled out for this purpose.
Bonus Tips to make you a better parallel teacher
Use Humor
Always have space for a sense of humor and try not to take yourself to seriously. Instead, have fun, crack jokes and let the students see that you and your teaching partner can have fun together.
Don’t be afraid to fail
It’s the only way we learn how to do things better. If things don’t work as planned, own it! It is an excellent opportunity to model to the students that no one is perfect, things are not always successful, and it’s okay to go back to the drawing board.
Responsibilities
Ensure that you and your teaching partner clearly understand each other’s responsibilities. This way, you don’t infringe on each other and also don’t have a situation where something hasn’t been done as you were expecting the other to do it.
Student Behavior
You need to have a mutual agreement on specific issues such as what constitutes acceptable student behavior, homework expectation, how you communicate with the parents and your planning schedule. If you are both on the same page, it will ensure you can have each other back if there is an issue.
Be Humble
Be flexible and willing to learn from each other. As teachers, we often get very stuck in our ways and swear by what works for us. But observing a colleague and seeing new approaches can be liberating. Be flexible enough to try new things, share ideas, merge ideas to consider the best options, and embrace stepping out of your comfort zone.
By Nicola K
Nicola lives in Johannesburg, South Africa. Before starting her career as a writer, she specialized in gifted education and now writes about education and supporting parents and teachers of children who are “different” according to commonly-held views.
