A Study of Basic Characteristics and Views of Team Teaching Programs and the Expectations of Elementary School Principals Currently Supervising Team Teaching

Traditionally, in Fremont, Nebraska, the elementary schools have been organized around self-contained classrooms. However, during the past year, efforts have been made in the Clarmar Elementary School to change this arrangement, and capitalize upon the special abilities and interests of the teachers in the intermediate grades. For example, in a fifth grade, one of the two teachers instructed both sections of math, while the other taught English. With this background experience, the fourth and fifth grade staff members concluded that the advantages of team teaching and the self-contained classroom should be incorporated into their instructional 1976-77 school year. Toward this end, the participating staff members and the principal engaged in cooperative planning during the spring and summer. In the autumn of 1976, the team was composed of four teachers. They organized and developed their plans cooperatively and the leadership role was rotated from teacher to teacher