“Fortunately, I found a home here that allows me personal expression”: Co-teaching in the bilingual Hebrew-Arabic-speaking preschool in Israel

In this study, we asked how co-teachers in a bilingual preschool overcome challenges in the relationship-building stage, rethink their language education ideology, and coordinate language instruction strategies, and acknowledge their cultural and professional background. The participants in the study were two teachers: one Hebrew-speaking and one Arabic-speaking in Israel. During one academic year, we conducted observations and interviews with teachers. Findings showed that the teaming process was built on the teachers’ openness to the different professional and cultural experience, readiness to rethink the initial language education ideology and to modify language strategies. The co-teachers’ teaming was characterized by agentic behavior.