This month we celebrate the Middle School Co-Teaching Cadre of Instructional Leaders! Ten co-teaching teams from George Washington and Francis C. Hammond participated in a 5-part professional learning series facilitated by Secondary Inclusion Specialist Savanna Flakes, and Secondary ELL Instructional Specialist Jennifer Hamilton. The teachers advanced their instructional practices in three high-yield co-teaching models (Parallel Teaching, Station Teaching, and Alternative Teaching), the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, and sheltered instruction strategies, as they advanced their skills in making content accessible to all learners. During the professional learning sessions, teachers explored various ways to incorporate Multiple Means of Representation, Multiple Means of Engagement, and Multiple Means of Action & Expression into their lesson plans, in addition to the explicit instruction of language. The Cadre teachers noted that the most valuable activity was the video self-reflection portions in which teachers viewed and analyzed recordings of each other teaching, as well as extensive co-planning time to differentiate and enhance learning. All participating teachers reflected that they grew in their understanding of UDL, sheltered instruction strategies, and co-teaching, which was evidenced in greater student engagement and achievement in their classrooms.
Please join us in celebrating these amazing participants!
- From GW:
- Sonia Chintha
- Amber Grier
- Marilyn Lowry
- Karen Panth
- Felicia Tolliver-Johnson
- Peter Jones
- Eleanor Hein
- Lauren Smith
- Melinda Snow
- Jennifer Tutuska
- Melissa Tilashalski
- Ayse Nalcaoglu
- Sukhdeep Kaur
- Kailee Smith
- Denise Radomski
- Katelyn Charbonneau
- Irina Kress
- From Hammond:
- Rejane McCorkel
- Meghan Pope
- Nicole Davenport
- Janelle Kochis