Parity, Parity, Parity

How do you and your co-teaching partner convey to students that your teaching relationship is truly collaborative, that it
is a partnership based on parity? The following checklist might help you to think through ideas about how you, your
teaching partner, and students can observe parity (or its absence).

Already Should
Not
Do
Do
Applicable

_____

_____

1. Both teachers names are on the board, door, or posted in

the classroom.

_____

_____

2. Both teachers names are on schedules and report cards.

_____

_____

3. Both teachers handwriting is on student assignments (that

is, each teacher participates in grading).

_____

_____

4. Both teachers have space for personal belongings.

_____

_____

5. Both teachers have similar furniture (desks, chairs, etc).

_____

_____

6. Both teachers take a lead role in the classroom.

_____

_____

7. Teacher talk during instruction is approximately equal.

_____

_____

8. Both teachers give directions or permission without checking

with the other teacher.

_____

_____

9. Both teachers work with ALL students.

_____

_____

10. Both teachers are considered teachers by all students.

Notes / Comments: These responses are based on my co-teaching relationship with Ms. M, one
of my three co-teahing partners. There is definitely more or a shared role in this room than in
others. The main reasons for this are: she plans ahead giving me opportunities to figure out where
I fit in, whereas one of my other co-teachers takes things day by day. Also, my desk is in this room
and I float to the other classrooms, therefore I have space and a name on the door, this is not the
case in my other classes.

Marilyn Friend, 2009