Co-Teaching Helps All Students Succeed

Marie Cianca, Ed.D.June, 2009 Model Schools Conference

1

Session Objectives/Essential Questions

Why co-teach? What is co-teaching? What does the research say about co-

teaching? What to consider when implementing

co-teaching? What is my learning and working

style? How does all this impact my students?

2

54 Million

3

People older than 15 in the US who: Use a wheelchair, a cane, crutches, or a walker Have difficulty performing one or more functional

activities Have difficulty with one or more activities of daily

living. Have difficulty with one or more instrumental

activities of daily living. ( going outside the home, keeping track of money and bills, preparing meals, taking prescription medicines in the right amount at the right time, and using the telephone.)

McNeil, J. (2001). Americans with disabilities. Current Population Reports: Household studies, no. 1997. <http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/p70-73.pdf>

4

People older than 15 in the US who: Have one or more specified conditions or any

other mental or emotional condition that seriously interfere with everyday activities

Have a condition that limits the ability to work around the house

Have a condition that makes it difficult to work at a job or business

Receive federal benefits based on an inability to work

McNeil, J. (2001). Americans with disabilities. Current Population Reports: Household studies, no. 1997. <http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/p70-73.pdf>

5

Why Co-teach?

6,634,000

Children with disabilities served, ages 3-21 (2003)

13.7 Percent of children with disabilities within the school

population

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (2006). Digest of Education Statistics, 2005 (NCES 2006-030)

6

Challenge Question!!

If this concept were a song, what would the genre of music be and what title would you give it?

7

Benefits of Co-teaching

Professional growthDifferentiationTeacher accessBehavior managementStudent engagement

8

What is Co-Teaching?Marilyn Friend’s definition

Two or more professionals who are appropriately credentialed; peers

Joint delivery of instruction not simply two educators in a room;

Diverse or blended group of students Shared classroom space

9

What is Co-Teaching?Richard Villa’s definition

Two or more people who share responsibility for teaching some or all of the students assigned to a classroom. They:

Have a common, publicly agreed-on goal Share belief system that supports each team

member’s unique expertise Demonstrate parity by alternating roles Distribute the functions of teaching to all team

members; Use a cooperative process that includes face-to-face

interactions, positive interdependence, interpersonal skills, monitoring of co-teacher progress and accountability

10

What is Co-Teaching?Anne Beninghof’s definition:

Two or more adults Simultaneously instructing a heterogeneous

group of students In a coordinated fashion

Co-teaching is not one teacher acting like a helper, just “showing up”, ignoring the needs of students with IEPs or teaching the same old way.

11

What does the research say about co-teaching? Effective reform initiatives are based on the

presumption that effective collaborators will work together to achieve desired aims.

Collaboration is especially significant in programs that include students with disabilities

Unique, dynamic and problematic differences on teams are what makes collaborative efforts more effective than the efforts of individuals. Plans are more creative, more comprehensive and more likely to succeed because of broader support and commitment.

12

Co-Teaching Approaches

Six Corners

13

Marilyn Friend’s 6 Models of Co-Teaching

One teach, one ObserveParallel TeachingA one teach, one AssistStation TeachingTeam TeachingAlternative Teaching

14

Teams List the teams in which you have been a

member. Which of these teams is/was most effective? What are the characteristics of effective and

ineffective teams from your experience?

Effective Ineffective

15

What to consider when co-teaching…

16

Working Styles

Learning Styles

17

Suggested Readings Strengthen Your Coteaching Relationship Jan

Stivers. Intervention in School and Clinic. Austin: Nov 2008. Vol. 44, Iss. 2;  pg. 121, 5 pgs

Choose Colleagues Before Friends for Teaching Teams Daniel L Kain. The Education Digest. Ann Arbor: Sep 2006. Vol. 72, Iss. 1;  pg. 53, 4 pgs

Collaboration to support students' success Chriss Walther-Thomas, Lori Korinek, Virginia L McLaughlin. Focus on Exceptional Children. Denver: Nov 1999. Vol. 32, Iss. 3;  pg. 1, 18 pgs

Myths and misunderstandings about professional collaboration Marilyn Friend. Remedial and Special Education. Austin: May/Jun 2000. Vol. 21, Iss. 3;  pg. 130, 4 pgs

18

Suggested Readings

19

Understanding coteaching components Susan E Gately, Frank J Gately Jr. Teaching Exceptional Children. Reston: Mar/Apr 2001. Vol. 33, Iss. 4; pg. 40, 8 pgs

Tips and Strategies for Co-Teaching at the Secondary Level Wendy W Murawski, Lisa A Dieker. Teaching Exceptional Children. Reston: May/Jun 2004. Vol. 36, Iss. 5; pg. 52, 7 pgs