Reply To: Hello From the Golden State!

[Abigail Newcomb]

I am happy to be a thought partner with you as you learn about how your school implements the model.

1) I think one of the largest benefits of the larger classroom structure is removing tracking and promoting inclusion. Students at any level are able to challenge themselves and receive support as it’s needed. It’s also impossible to tell who has an IEP and who doesn’t because all student are able to receive the support they need regardless of labels.

2) The way we would run our classroom is in rotations. We had 90 minute block classes and students would rotate through new material, remediation, and independent time. Two teachers would lead two groups of 20 for 45 on new material while the other teacher led remediation for 22 minutes with one group and then switched to another group half way. All students would get 22 minutes of independent work time each day.

3) It is definitely more challenging to build relationships with students, but it can be done. My biggest recommendation here is to try to switch which teacher is working with each group of students regularly. That way students get use to each teachers personality and feel connected to each. For this reason, teachers also have to be very in sync regarding expectations so that it doesn’t seem like one teacher is a disciplinarian while the other lets things slide.

I hope this helps! Let me know if there is any other way I can help!