Descriptive Analysis of Team Teaching in Two Elementary Classrooms: A Formative Experimental Approach

Abstract

This article reports the results of a descriptive analysis of team teaching in two classrooms. The study employed a relatively new approach to field-based research, referred to as formative experiments, to conduct formative and summative evaluation procedures. Results of quantitative and qualitative analyses to assess student outcomes, teaching procedures, and teacher impressions are presented. Descriptive information regarding planning time, type of instructional format of team teaching, student groupings, and follow-up evaluation time was obtained through weekly teacher logs. Focus groups and written teacher comments provided information regarding teacher satisfaction of the team-teaching experience. Performance of typical students and students with learning disabilities on curriculum-based assessment measures given pre- and post team teaching suggest academic gains in reading and spelling for all students. The results of this study are discussed, and recommendations for further research are given.