Teachers Sharing a Job

I am quite upset and don't know what to think. My son will have two teachers sharing the job as his second-grade teacher. One will teach Monday and Tuesday, and the other on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and the next Monday, Tuesday. Then their schedule will reverse. Is this a common practice? What are the chances of my child having a good year? -- Questioning
Answer: Sharing a teaching job is becoming more common in elementary school. Some school districts are encouraging this arrangement to save money. Others are primarily using it to let teaching mothers have more time at home with their children. Schools find that job-sharing results in a reduction of sick days taken and absenteeism -- a benefit to the school and the children.
Most teachers are very enthusiastic about job-sharing. They say that the children get the benefit of two fresh teachers who are more enthusiastic about their work. And they feel that fewer children slip between the cracks because two teachers are observing the students. They also see benefits in the children being exposed to different instructional styles.
Job-sharing may occur in the pattern that you mention, or the teachers may each teach a half-day. In either case, the key to success lies in the communication between the teachers. Most communicate by e-mail, notes, journals and phone calls. They also hold joint parent/teacher conferences. Half-day teachers often have the benefit of an overlap time at lunch.
How successful the year will be for your son depends on the compatibility, cooperation and partnership of the two teachers. There will be problems, unfortunately, if the communication between the teachers is not good.