Collaboration and Co-Teaching for English Learners

A Leader's Guide

"Even with well-trained teachers and policies in place, closing the gap for English learners is often difficult because of school leaders' lack of training and background in English learner and program needs. With Collaboration and Coteaching for English Learners: A Leader's Guide, Andrea Honigsfeld and Maria G. Dove provide a much-needed road map for success to school leaders. In practical fashion, professional development training is provided to assist leaders in joining forces with school personnel in order to achieve a successful and sustainable coteaching and collaboration culture in their schools. This book is a must-read for any principal education program as well as district leadership trainings."

"Now that proposed amendments to the law in New York State require that fifteen percent of professional development hours for all teachers and administrators be specific to the needs of ELLs, language acquisition and cultural competency, this publication could not be more timely.  Thank you for facilitating the task with this book.  Collaboration and co-teaching for ELLs would not be possible without the knowledge and endorsement of the administrators."

"This new book for school leaders by Honigsfeld and Dove comes at a time when many states are saying that every teacher is regarded as a teacher of ELLs. Immigrant populations are increasing not only in cities but also in suburban and rural areas. Additionally, there is a renewed emphasis on teaching academic language and content together. This Leader’s Guide provides administrators and all supporting positions with a clear blueprint for the essential school-wide collaboration needed to be successful in these endeavors.  The tools provided here are invaluable for shared curriculum development, instruction, and assessment practices for ELLs. The guide provides both essential knowledge, as well as, leadership strategies and steps to achieve the goals of collaboration and coteaching in a way that will be of great benefit to school leaders and their staff. In addition, it provides an excellent and much needed framework and encouragement for school leaders, general education teachers and ESL teachers to work more closely together toward ELL success."

"Whether you are a beginning supervisor or an experienced administrator, you will appreciate what you can find in Collaboration and Co-Teaching: A Leader's Guide. Honigsfeld and Dove have written an invaluable resource for instructional leaders who work with English Language Learners. Filled with ideas and strategies, this user friendly guide provides schools leaders with tips and tools on working collaboratively for the success of our diverse learners."

"Collaboration is at the heart of good teaching and learning.  In order for ELLs to flourish in schools, collaboration requires a school culture of rich personal relationships among teachers and children. Collaboration and Co-Teaching for English Learners: A Leaders’ Guide is a much needed book for school leaders across the United States and world, offering practical advice and resources for creating a collaborative approach that is important for all teachers. "

“In the face of a demographic imperative, Collaboration and Co-Teaching for English Learners: A Leader’s Guide is an important, informative, and indispensible resource for practicing teachers, school administrators, teacher educators, and legislators of educational policy. The book should be used to prepare school leaders to engage in collaborative leadership practices that support culturally and linguistically diverse students. The contributors to this volume provide thought-provoking insights into collaborative and co-teaching strategies to meet the needs of English learners, making this book practical and relevant to a wide readership.”

"I have found Collaboration and Co-Teaching: Strategies for English Learners to be invaluable both as I train teachers in a large community-based English as a New Language program, where we utilize co-teaching,  and as a resource for the online professional development I facilitate for teachers around the world. I am excited to have a leader’s guide accompanying the original publication and look forward to using the professional learning activities in it in my work. Andrea and Maria have found a way to expand upon a great resource. "

"Collaboration and Co-Teaching for English Learners: A Leaders Guide is a critical addition to every new and experienced educational leader’s bookshelf. Schools that succeed with increasingly diverse populations are able to leverage every asset through collaborations and partnerships. This is a guidebook by trusted experts that will help any preK - 12 program follow that path to success. The dynamic features included in the book make it equally effective as a personal resource and as material for professional development."

“District wide, we have used Collaboration and Co-Teaching to strengthen the types of support that ELL Specialists offer classroom teachers.  Having a systematic process collaborating to create a school wide success model for ELL students benefits everyone in education with the reward of student achievement.  We have all known for a long time that ELL students spend the majority of their time in classrooms, only some of which are rich with resources and strategies.  Bringing staff together in true collaborative practices spreads those resources and strategies far and wide!  Our district is looking forward to using The Leader’s Guide as a way of strengthening our professional development and collaborative efforts towards quality instruction for English Learners.”

"Common vision, common language, common goals. Bringing administrators and staff together to create an inclusive environment and support English learners.  New and seasoned administrators will benefit from the leadership practices detailed in this text."