It Takes Two to Plan

Mrs. Wongtastic and I are trying out a new planning method this year with www.planbook.com
Now, I must give her all the credit because she is the one who found this wonderful website back in September when we were racking our brains for a system or a program to be able to plan together.

Here is what the website looks like.

We tried the physical planbook (the free one from Lakeshore that every teacher has) but it was too time consuming for us to copy down the same plans twice (since we're co-teachers sharing a room) and hard to know when one of us added or changed plans.

We ALSO tried google calendar. We created a separate calendar for
our classroom plans and shared it with one another. The perks of google calendar was that we could add, drop, and modify plans and both have access to it. It worked great for a year then we wanted more options than google calendar was giving us on their basic calendar format.

That's when Mrs. Wongtastic went on a internet search journey to find an existing online planning program for teachers that would allow us to have one account and both have access to add, drop, and modify one set of plans. I guess we aren't the first ones who wanted such a program because it already existed!

We have been using planbook since September and I must say that it is pretty amazing and makes our lives as co-teachers so much easier! I love the simplicity of it and how it really is like those physical planbooks you write your week's plans in except, it's online, it's able to be shared with a co-teacher, anddd it's cheap! Only $12 for a year.
If you split it with your co-teacher that's only $6 which is around the price of a physical planbook, anyways.

So if physical planbooks are not working for you, check out www.planbook.com!
Your first month is FREE! :)

Co-Teaching Marriage Do's

As many of you know, I am happily married to a co-teacher, Mrs. Wongtastic (formally referred to as Ms. Phantastic). This school year is our 4th year together and I can say that our co-teaching marriage is one that continues to grow and prosper with every school year! I think the reason why we work so well together is one, our personalities seem to be naturally very compatible with one another. In every sense, we are like a married couple. Mrs. Wongtastic is stronger in a lot of my weaker areas and we truly do respect one another in our classroom or shall I say marriage? Haha. 

Not sure how many of my readers are co-teachers or know someone who is co-teaching but here are some do's in a co-teaching marriage (all based on my own experience and relationship of course!).

Do's

1) Do respect the other person.

Mrs. Wongtastic and I do get along but a lot of the getting along happens as we mutually respect one another and see each other as professionals. I completely respect my co-teacher and see her as an individual always growing and trying to better herself as an educator. A lot of my own inspiration comes from her!

2) Do share the workload!

Mrs. Wongtastic and I completely share everything we have to do in our classroom from grading, organizing, preparing, and teaching. I don't think one has MORE responsibilities over the other. We make sure that we share all responsibilities and it makes our life so much easier. For example, if we have tons of papers to grade we might split it in half. If I have to write up an I.E.P. (an individualized educational plan) for one of our students receiving special education services, Mrs. Wong will do something else that I had to do like booking a trip. 

3) Do refer to everything as "OURS" instead of "MINE"

Whenever one of us is leading a lesson, we make sure that we ALWAYS address everything as OURS and include the other person. For example, I rarely use "I was thinking..." instead I always say, "Mrs. Wong and I were thinking", instead of saying "I am really happy about the writing assignments" I will say, "We are so happy about the writing assignments". It's something so small but it makes a HUGE difference in creating a collaborative atmosphere in our classroom. 

4) Do show your appreciation for the other person

In our busy schedules, Mrs. Wongtastic and I will find little ways to show each other that we're appreciative of the other person from buying the other person a cup of coffee or something sweet to eat, or doing something the other was suppose to do as a surprise of even just bringing in something to share to eat at lunch. 

5) Do find humor in the classroom

Mrs. Wongtastic and I are often laughing in the room whether it's because of something ridiculous that has occurred or an inside joke that we share. Sometimes there is nothing else you can do but just simply laugh. 

This entry is pretty similar to one of my earliest entries on my blog,

HOW TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN A HAPPY CO-TEACHING MARRIAGE

if you're interested in reading some more on co-teaching marriages. :)

I'll be back with some DON'TS in the near future!

Have a great weekend, everyone. 

XOXO,

Ms. Kimpop

How To Create & Maintain a Happy Marriage

A co-teaching marriage that is, hahaha.

Co-teaching is a lot like a marriage.
It really does take two compatible individuals, hard work, dedication, and respect
to have a successful co-teaching relationship.

I guess you can say that my principal is a great match maker because she has been pairing
up successful co-teaching marriages for about 4 years now!

Anyways, after what is ALMOST a year of being in a healthy and happy co-teaching relationship, I will share some tips and advice for those who might be co-teaching in the future.

TIPS AND ADVICE FOR A HEALTHY CO-TEACHING MARRIAGE

1) Think of Your Co-teacher as Your Equal
It's so important to think of your co-teacher(partner) as your equal. I believe if you truly believe your partner to be of an equal to you, there will come a mutual level of respect for him or her. I believe that my partner (whom I shall refer to as Ms. Phantastic) is not only an equal but someone whom I highly respect and admire. She has taught me so much in my first official year of teaching and continues to inspire me to work harder each day.

2) Be Open (Communicate)
It's also very important to openly discuss things with your co-teacher. Ms. Phantastic and I had the privilage of attending a co-teaching workshop before we embarked on this journey together. Through the workshop, we were able to openly discuss our teaching styles and classroom expectations. What I learned is that you have to be flexible and open to new ideas because in a co-teaching classroom, you are merging two different teaching styles and expectations into one. You are not gonna get everything your way and that's just the nature of sharing a space with someone and trying to merge two different lives together, which leads me into the next tip.

3) Be Flexible
Not everything will go your way. This is just the fact of being in a co-teaching relationship. You are going to want to do the bulletin board this way and he or she will want to do it another. However, you must make comprises. If your co-teacher wants to do the bulletin board a certain way, maybe you can suggest taking turns with the bulletin board or even merge your ideas together.

4) Maintain a Level of Professionalism
Although Ms. Phantastic and I spend a great deal of time together each week (more than anyone else in my life) I always maintain a certain level of professionalism. I just think it makes your co-teaching relationship better when you do. There's a reason why you fight with your family members and close friends. It's because your so comfortable and really don't hold anything back. However, in a co-teaching relationship I think it's beneficial to always keep in mind that although your co-teacher is your friend and partner, he or she is also your colleague so be professional about it.

5) Be There
There will be days when your co-teacher is not feeling well (physically,emotionally, mentally). This is when you have to pull both of your weights together. It's just part of human nature to have good days and bad. When you realize that your co-teacher isn't feeling well, you should take initiative to maybe teach longer, give him or her space. Also let him or her know that you understand what is going on and you are willing to "lead" for the day. I think this is SO important. Just like in a real marriage, if your partner was sick, you would take the initiative to maybe take out the garbage, cook dinner, and put the kids to bed... in a co-teaching marriage it's no different. Compromise, compromise, and compromise!


Although I am NO expert on co-teaching relationships by any means, these are just some of the things that I think have allowed Ms. Phantastic and I to have such a wonderful year together. I am truly SO very thankful to have had the opportunity to work with such a talented, caring, and sweet partner. I know we will have many more happy years ahead and that makes me SO excited!

Dedicated to the most wonderful co-teaching partner, Ms. Phantastic :)