Middle School English

I am just the Ed Specialist helping out in an English class.  This students sit at their desks and write on the computer.  The teacher sits at his desk on his computer as well.  The assignments are listed on the white board in front of the class.  I have yet to find a student who wants any help.  Half way through the class, the teacher annouces to move to your partner and start writing your short story.  Students move and now there is more talking in the class.  Teacher is still sitting at his computer.  I have walked around a few times.  I have asked students to stop playing a game.  I get up again and now two students are playing a game instead of writing their story.  The teacher then shouts out who has not replied to the prompt in Google Classroom.  I still don’t understand the purpose to co-teaching.  I don’t feel helpful in the middle school classroom.