Inclusive Practices: Co- Teaching Indiana IEP Resource Center

Inclusive Practices: Co-Teaching

Indiana IEP Resource Center

INDIANA IEP RESOURCE CENTER

Defining Co-Teaching

“The term co-teaching is not interchangeable with the term “inclusion.” Inclusion is a philosophy that “everyone belongs, is accepted, supports and is supported by his peers and other members of the school community in the course of having his or her educational needs met.” Co-teaching is only one component in creating an effective inclusive program.”

(Stainback & Stainback, 1990)



—Co-teaching is… —a service delivery mechanism.—two or more professionals with equivalent

licensure and employment status.—shared instructional responsibility and

accountability for a single group of students.



—Co-teaching occurs primarily in a shared classroom or workspace.

—Co-teachers’ specific level of participation may vary based on their skills and the instructional needs of the student group.



—Co-Teaching Is Not…— Possible to plan for alone— One teaches while one corrects papers— One Teach, one stroll around— “My student” or “Your student”— Teaching the students with special needs

in one part of the classroom


Co-Teaching Pairs: Relationships

—Communication

—Expectations in the Classroom

—Co-Teacher Discussions


Co-Teaching Pairs: Communication

How do you plan to communicate during the school day?


Co-Teaching Pairs: Expectations

—Take time to formally share expectations for the co-teaching experience.

—Express expectations in the areas of discipline, classwork, grading, planning, and modifications to name a few.


Co-Teaching Pairs: Discussions

What do we want to do when…?

Who can be my Co-Teaching Partner?

• ELL Teacher/General Ed Teacher

• ELL Teacher/Special Ed Teacher

• Special Ed Teacher/General Ed Teacher

• Special Ed Teacher/Speech Language Pathologist

• Special Ed Teacher/Occupational Therapist or

Physical Therapist


Co-Teaching and the Continuum of Services

General Education

General Education with Special Education Services

Co-Taught Class (General Education)

Self-Contained Special Education Class

Special Education Class in a Separate Setting

Private Day School

Residential School

Home/Hospital Instruction

Least SupportiveLeast Collaborative

Least Collaborative Most Supportive

Most Collaborative


Co-teaching: Placement

1. Case Conference Discussion2. Student specific Discussion3. Purposeful Placement4. Document the decision (see sample format)


1. Co-plan2. Co-instruct3. Co-assess

Co-teaching Requirements


Co-teaching Requirements: Co-Plan!

—For those of you that currently co-teach, how do you plan your lessons?

—For those of you that are preparing to co-teach, how will you plan your lessons?

—How do we find the time for co-planning if we don’t have a dedicated time?


Co-teaching Requirements: Co-Plan!

—Using a Co-Planner—Reciprocal Planning/Leaving Early—Floating Planning Period—Varying Days/Varying Classrooms—Banking Instructional Time—Not held to other building supervision in

exchange for planning time—Collaboration Time


Co-teaching Requirements: Co-Teach!

Discussing the Co-Teaching Methods

One Teach, One AssistAlternative Teaching

Parallel TeachingStation TeachingTeam Teaching

Co-teach: One Teach, One Assist

• One teacher leads the class the other supports instruction.

• Most Frequently Used• Roles should change

often• Supporting Teacher

can be:• Setting up for the

next activity • Monitoring/

Observing behavior

• Providing accommodations

• Redirecting students

Co-teach: Alternative

• Small group used to pre-teach, re-teach, enrich or individualize instruction.

• The make up of the group should vary.

Co-teach: Parallel

•Same content•same method

•Same content: •different methods

•Different content •Divide and Conquer

Co-teach: Stations

Divide content between teacher led stations and independent stations

Co-teach: Team Teaching

Two teachers leading the whole class at the same time


Co-Teaching Requirements: Co–Assess!

Questions to Consider Related to Grading in Inclusive Settings

—Are you explicit about the grading policy?—Do you use multilevel grading?—Do you give credit for participation?—Do you evaluate students’ performance in a

variety of ways?—Do you consider multiple intelligences?


Co-teaching Requirements: Co–Assess!

Grading Options to Consider:—Letter grades or system used by

general educator—Pass/Fail—Exhibitions—Shared Grading—Letter Grades with level of difficulty

coding—Multiple Grading- (Rubrics)—Portfolio summaries—Work samples with rubrics

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Documents

Inclusive Practices: Co- Teaching Indiana IEP Resource Center