60. Team teach
This is a fun way to energize yourself as well as the students. Why not combine forces with another teacher and have more brainpower when dealing with course content, evaluation, and discipline. Just remember, this means you have to practice what you usually just preach; working as a team and getting along. Sometimes we teachers are not too good at this!
I have experienced team teaching trough two different instructional methods. Physically teaching in the classroom with another teacher by sharing all responsibilities and by rotating time in the classroom with another coworker. Obviously neither method is perfect but I can honestly say that both were energizing and challenging; for myself, my colleague, and our students. This is because of the reasons I mentioned in the opening paragraph. Teaching together is great as long as you have expectations, content, and evaluation methods all worked out. When rotating assignments with another, be sure to have a set expectation. I was involved in a setup where we had two half year courses that were supplementary. Switching assignments midway through the year was stimulating.
Team teaching may not be on the top of your priority list. Be sure to check out the sites below and/or talk to others in your building that have team taught. See if this is for you. It is very important to want to team teach and select someone who is excited about it as well. I can tell you this much, in my ten plus years of teaching I find it an absolute necessity to keep yourself energized; if you expect the same from your students. Keeping that “spark” you had when you began teaching or decided to first pursue a career in education is what makes an effective teacher. Remember that.
http://www.todaysteacher.com/TeamTeaching.htm
http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2006/march15/team-031506.html
http://www.team-teach.co.uk/introduction_Aims.html
