Lauren,Your worksheet provided some very good questions to spark conversation and ideas.  Sometimes it is hard to bring up and talk about these things when working closely with another teacher.  Were you in a co-teaching situation yourself?  
Nicole Ruzycki

Thanks so much for the great tips on aides.  I have lots of student aides that come to help out and I never how how to utilize them, or how to team teach with them.  This has great suggestions  that I will definitely use in the future.
Lindsey Klintworth

Nicole, I have an aide that works in mu classroom. We have built a great relationship and really didn't have any problems in the beginning of our working relationship, but I still would have loved this to work from. I do know many other individuals that are working together that I think this would have helped immensely. 
Lindsey, I like the idea of using the questions or student aides as well. That would be very helpful!

From Lauren KowalskiOOPS!

Lauren,I had a teacher aide for the first time last year and am fortunate enough to have had a GREAT experience.  The aide and I got along really well and were able to communicate effectively all year.  The questions from your worksheet are really good and obviously well though out!  I would definitely use this in the future when I have a new teacher aide.  Thanks for sharing!Andrew Sargent

I am a special education teacher and I team in a wide variety of classes. Sometimes the teams work great, and I can remember one time I almost quit teaching altogether it was so bad. First, and foremost I think we all have to remember teachers have personalities - sometimes these mesh, and sometimes they don't. So, when paired it is hoped that the teachers and the students can be taken into account. This isn't always possible. Up front expectations are key though. Both parties need to understand what is expected of the other, as they are supposed to be peers - not subordinates. Another obstacle in my district is that we are often not given time to prepare with our team teachers - we are told (if we are luck) 2 days before the term starts, and usually after the term has begun. Also, what many subject certified teachers don't always understand is that I am not a certified teacher or an expect in their subject. I team in as many as FOUR other subjects throughout the day. I am really trying to be an expert in your subject, but if it is the first time, I am in the classroom with you - then I might be learning the subject with the kids. Team teaching is stressful for all involved, but communication is the key to overcoming these barriers and working together for the success of students. Class sizes are going to do nothing but increase and the team approach with be beneficial for many students. Kim Davis 

I have subbed in classes with co-teachers, as well as parent volunteers, and I must say, having all of those extra hands aren't necessarily the best thing. I can imagine many stressful positions of co-teaching, like different teaching philosophies, strikingly different personalities that may not mesh well or, and maybe this is simply a worry of mine, what if the students outwardly like and prefer one teacher over the other. Wouldn't that cause some kind of silent resentment between the two? I like having my own class to do things MY way so, unless it was a clone of myself, working with a co-teacher would be pretty difficult for me. 

Ruth Sable.

I had an assistant my first year on the job. It was not her first year, and she had A LOT of criticism for me. It was always presented as complaints. I ended up talking to my supervisor about her. I had never done such a thing before, but had no idea how to handle the situation. -Sarah Martin