Job Discussion Forums

[haleynicole14]

I have been informally offered an ESL teaching position at an (edit: American) elementary school, with the formal offer pending on whether I can obtain state licensure to teach. In the interview, the principal mentioned that there is a switch occurring in ESL education from "pull-out" to "push-in" teaching. Pull-out ESL would be where the ESL teacher pulls out students to work with them in a special setting. In push-in teaching, the ESL teacher goes into classrooms to work with students during regular class time. Does anyone have experience with this? I have found mixed reviews of the method online. It seems it depends a lot on how well the teachers work together.

I don't want to get relegated to an instructional assistant role, and I was really hoping to have my own classroom. I would be in one classroom in the mornings and another in the afternoons. The pay is good and the principal was very positive and friendly, making me think the school environment would be nice. The interview was over the phone and they are looking to hire quickly, as the school year has already started. Any thoughts on how this has worked out for others would be very helpful, as coteaching isn't something I've done before.

Here's an article on the coteaching experience that I found in a google search. http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/cooperative_teaching_two_teach_83908.php

[DebMer]

I've only seen push in done during short periods of the day, like during language arts instruction, a teacher comes in and sits at a kidney table with a small group of students needing remediation and does a parallel lesson to the one the regular teacher is doing. There is really no interaction between the two teachers during class time, in my experience.

I have no idea what this would look like as two half-days in different classrooms. If it's anything like what I've seen, you'd have your students separated from the group and work with them only (as opposed to being an assistant). You would probably be seen more as a specialist than a TA.

[spiral78]

I have seen (quite a long time ago) something similar done in a remedial context. As DebMer says, the students are separated within the room for a period while the 'special' teacher works with them. As I saw it, the teacher was almost entirely autonomous, and the results were positive and measurable. It seemed like a fairly rewarding thing, honestly.

[Teacher in Rome]

Echo the other contributors.

I've taught a lot in the state sector in Italy where a special needs teacher sits with a particular student during my (ESL) lesson. The teacher sometimes (not always) mirrors my class lesson - it depends very much on the specific needs of that student.

I've never been required to go over my lesson plans with the special needs teacher beforehand, but there's always a minute or two while the students are filing in and getting settled that I can give a brief overview of what we'll be doing in class. I also make sure to have a brief chat with the student at some point during the lesson (like I would with all of the class) and - if possible - involve them in activities.

It's always been relatively informal with me - perhaps because I'm not the permanent class teacher. Your situation might be different, so I'd advise you to get a clearer picture of how you'd need to collaborate with the support teacher - how much preparation that would be, etc.

[johnslat]

Dear haleynicole14,

At the community college where I teach ESL (Santa Fe, NM) there is what's called an I-Best program. Co-teaching is an essential part of the process, with a "content teacher" (in a number of different areas: Early Childhood Education, Green Building, Culinary Arts, etc.) and an ESL teacher working together.
Here are a couple of sited that you may find helpful:

http://flightline.highline.edu/ibest/co-teaching.php

http://www.sbctc.ctc.edu/college/_e-ibestteamteachingmodels.aspx

Regards,
John

[haleynicole14]

Thanks everyone! I have heard nearly all positive comments from others that I have talked to about this, so I think if I do get formally offered the position, I will likely take it.

[HLJHLJ]

Not specifically related to ESL but there is a move towards push-in teaching for remedial classes in the UK. The argument is that the kids feel less excluded/isolated from the rest of the class and there is less stigma attached to it, which leads to less bullying. Although, I don't know if there is any evidence for that.

[haleynicole14]

Turns out I don't qualify for teaching certification in that state so it's not an issue. Back to searching for jobs abroad... which is where I would rather be anyway.