Discover effective co-teaching strategies inspired by Dr. Paula Kluth's motivating work in collaborative learning. In this interactive session, educators will explore various co-teaching structures (e.g., duet teaching, station teaching, parallel teaching, one teach/one make multi-sensory) , instructional approaches, and practical techniques for fostering meaningful collaboration. Through discussions, activities, and real-world examples, participants will gain valuable insights to enhance pa
Discover effective co-teaching strategies inspired by Dr. Paula Kluth's motivating work in collaborative learning. In this interactive session, educators will explore various co-teaching structures (e.g., duet teaching, station teaching, parallel teaching, one teach/one make multi-sensory) , instructional approaches, and practical techniques for fostering meaningful collaboration. Through discussions, activities, and real-world examples, participants will gain valuable insights to enhance partnerships (e.g., spotlighting, anchoring) between general and special educators, addressing diverse needs, and creating supportive classroom climates for all students. Teams can look forward to building a collective vision, setting goals, and uncovering shared achievements!
Outcomes:
Participants will:
- Explore research on the impact of co-teaching
- Discover five co-teaching structures
- Learn 5+ collaborative exercises
- Examine 3+ strategies for strengthening collaborative relationships in the classroom and beyond
Who Should Attend: This session is geared towards grade level teachers, LBS1, administrators, coaches, and related service providers, who work with and plan for students and would benefit from actionable strategies to promote inclusivity and student success in co-taught classrooms.
Satisfactory completion requirements:
- Attendance is based on your signature in and out of the session. Failure to provide a signature in and out will result in no credit.
- Participants are expected to attend the entire session to earn credit.
- Participants must complete an electronic course evaluation within two weeks of the session date to be sent a certificate.
- Accommodations, questions and complaints can be directed to: professionallearning@truenorth804.org
Cost Information: Participation fees are waived for TrueNorth employees, TrueNorth member district employees, and parents of students in our TrueNorth member districts. For individual participants who do not meet the above criteria, this course participation fee is $150.00. Participation or material fees will be billed directly to the school district that employs the participant after the session is complete or the first session in a series is complete. Individuals are asked to not bring payment to the session.
Cancellation and Refund Information: There is no cancellation fee, though we ask for advance notice to open the spot for another person. TrueNorth reserves the right to cancel any session due to low enrollment. TrueNorth does not charge prior to the start of the offered session. If an individual attends the first day of a learning series but is unable to attend the remaining sessions, the school district that employs the participant is able to designate an alternate person. It is up to the individual no longer attending the program to give their replacement the information learned in the first session.
About the Presenters:
Danielle Ritchey currently works in the role of District Service Coach for TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804 on the North Shore of Chicago. With a training background in Special Education, Applied Behavior Analysis, and School Leadership she has served in different roles as a Teacher, Program Director, Coach, and Professional Learning Facilitator over the past 14 years. She provides both direct coaching services and professional development training on the topics of co-teaching, classroom management, positive behavior supports, executive functioning skills, paraprofessional training, and creating a culture of equity. As a coach within multiple school districts, she works with school administration, teachers, and support staff to build the capacity of both educators and students. In addition, she co-created and facilitated the Elevating Disability Equity and the Paraprofessional Learning Series that serves the North Shore Chicago Suburban Member Districts.
Crystal Oswald serves as a district service coach in the North Shore of Chicago, where she partners with multiple schools as an instructional coach, focusing on Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and literacy. With a rich background, Crystal previously held roles as an SEL Curriculum and Instruction Specialist for three years and taught elementary grades 1-5 for 14 years. Her experience in the general education classroom includes collaborative co-teaching to meet the diverse needs of students. Outside of work, Crystal enjoys spending quality time with loved ones, reading, golfing, and tackling home improvement projects.
Financial Disclosure: Danielle Ritchey and Crystal Oswald are employees of TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804 and receive a salary.
Non-Financial Disclosure: Danielle Ritchey and Crystal Oswald have no relevant non-financial relationships.
*Member Districts include:
Northbrook 27, Northbrook 28, Sunset Ridge 29, Glenview/Northbrook 30, West Northfield 31, Glenview 34, Glencoe 35, Winnetka 36, Kenilworth 38, Lake Bluff 65, Lake Forest 67, Bannockburn 106, Deerfield 109, North Shore 112, Township HS 113, Lake Forest 115, New Trier 203, Glenbrook 225.
Have a question? Check out the Professional Learning FAQs or contact professionallearning@truenorth804.org.
