Discusses elements of successful cooperative planning for middle school teaching teams. Considers definitions for content goals, learners, and effective co-teaching. Describes planning of instructional units, cooperative grouping, roles and responsibilities for co-teachers, and tiered activities for a cooperative literature study. (JPB)

Asserts that successful teaming requires training, practice, and support structures and that it often comes unaccompanied by training or instructions. Presents a conceptual model of the factors that affect team performance, and describes the three categories of the framework, their usefulness, and examples of pertinent studies within each…

Examines ways in which interdisciplinary teaching teams change middle school organizations; considers the structure and benefits of transformative organizations, the five features of effective implementation of organizational change, the nature of transformative organizational structures, and the ways these structures create growth-inducing…

Discusses the affordability of implementing interdisciplinary teaching teams and block schedules in middle schools. Argues that the benefits of these school schedules and models make them worth the investment of time and money it takes to implement them. (JPB)

Identifies and explains the types of practices and interactions that interdisciplinary teaching teams engage in, which in turn influence instruction and student learning. Presents data to illustrate the impact of common planning time, team size, and scheduled teaming on team activities and interactions. (JPB)

Discusses the development of a teaching team structure in one middle school, describing efforts to redefine curriculum, assessment, scheduling, and teaming to foster new roles and relationships for students and teachers. (JPB)

Discusses ways to implement interdisciplinary teams to create high performance learning communities for students. Considers team tasks and needs, applying team tasks to responsive school structures, and enhancing instruction through flexible time use. (JPB)