Armstrong Elementary School
Teacher: Ms. Caswell, M.Ed.
Co-Teacher: Dr. Brooksher
Individualized Education Plan Meeting
September 21, 2015 - 5:00pm
Topics to be discussed:
Inclusion
What is Co-Teaching
Co-Teaching Models
The Value of Co-Teaching
Welcome to your first of many IEP meetings!
It has been determined that your child’s least restrictive, most beneficial, free and
appropriate education is in the general education classroom. But, what does this mean for your
child, and what does this mean for you as the parent?
First, here are some refresher points to remember about Inclusion.
 Your child will be placed in the least restrictive environment (LRE) that has the
most effective outcome to reach his Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) goals.
 Your child’s IEP team will consider a variety of special education services to
meet the needs of your child.
 As the parent, or guardian, you have the right to have your child placed in
general education classrooms.
 You have the right for your child to be included in all non-classroom and extracurricular activities as student’s who do not have a disability.
 You have the right to have supplementary instruction, aides, services, and
resources to the greatest extent, before considering removing your child from the
general education classroom.
For more information about inclusion and the practices and policies of inclusion please visit:
http://www.Idea.ed.gov
“The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law ensuring services to
children with disabilities throughout the nation. IDEA governs how states and public agencies
provide early intervention, special education and related services to more than 6.5 million
eligible infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities.
Infants and toddlers with disabilities (birth-2) and their families receive early intervention
services under IDEA Part C. Children and youth (ages 3-21) receive special education and
related services under IDEA Part B (US Department of Education, 2015).”
Co-Teaching
“Schools generally use four methods to help students with disabilities participate in the
general education classroom: Collaborative consultation, Co-teaching, curricula and instructional
strategies, accommodations and adaptations (Hallahan, D. P., Kauffman, J. M., & Pullen, P. C.,
2015. Pg. 32)”. For the purpose of this meeting, we will be discussing the method of coteaching.
A general definition of co-teaching, gathered through several definitions of the term, is
when two teachers (usually a general education teacher and special education teacher) guide
instruction in some form or fashion to a diverse, disabled and non-disabled, group of students in
the same classroom. Co-Teaching encompasses 6 models: One teach, one assists; One teach, one
observes; Alternative teaching; Station teaching, Parallel teaching, and team teaching (also
referred to as co-teaching). The most common form of co-teaching is one teaches and one assists.
Below, you will find an illustration of each model that breaks down the differences in the
models.
“In all models, teachers working together can discuss and better evaluate whether rules
and instructions are clear, brief, and delivered in appropriate formats for students. Co-teachers
can also work together to better anticipate “rough spots”” for students especially during
transition times, changes in routines, or complex tasks. The varying models of co-teaching
provide the flexibility for teachers to adjust instructional delivery to meet the objectives of the
teachers and the needs of the students (Hallahan, D. P., Kauffman, J. M., & Pullen, P. C., 2015
Pg. 168).”
Values of Co-Teaching
Some of the benefits of implementing co-teaching strategies in your child’s classroom includes
teachers being able to provide individualized instruction in small groups, while still being able to
teach the entire class via another teacher. Students will have greater access to differentiated
instruction, meaning, not every student learns the same. Having a co-teacher will allow students
who learn differently receive specialized instruction and does not take them out of the general
education classroom. “Teachers will learn from each other’s expertise and expand the scope of
their teaching capacity; reduces negative stigma associated with pull-out programs; students with
disabilities may feel more connected with their peer group (Friendship Circle 2013)”.
According to The University of Mexico, other benefits of co teaching includes:
“Increased student achievement, more student-teacher interaction, interventions with students are
more comprehensive with the co-teachers presence allotting more time for in depth supplemental
instruction. This also benefits the higher-level students to receive instructions for independent
lessons sooner versus waiting, while the teacher attends to students (who need more
individualized instruction), more attention to meet students’ needs; the ability to provide better
interventions, and classroom management is also enhanced.”
References
Friendship Circle Blog (2013). Benefits of Co-Teaching. Retrieved September 20, 2015 from
http://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2013/03/25/the-benefits-of-co-teaching-forstudents-with-special-needs/
Hallahan, D. P., Kauffman, J. M., & Pullen, P. C. (2015). Exceptional learners: An introduction
to special education (13th ed.).
The University Of Mexico (2015). Co-Teaching Collaborative Schools. Retrieved September 20,
2015 from http://coe.unm.edu/departments-programs/teelp/co-teaching-collaborativeschools/benefits.html
U.S. Department of Education (2015). Building the Legacy: IDEA 2004. Retrieved September
20, 2015 from http://idea.ed.gov
Pictures used for handout:
Boy in wheelchair Retrieved from lessonzone.com.au via Yahoo Image Search Engine.
Child in wheelchair Retrieved from www.gettyimages.com via Yahoo Image Search Engine.
Clip art courtesy of mycutegraphics.com Retrieved from Groovyeducator.blogdpot.com via
Yahoo Image Search Engine.
Geography clipart image: A geography teacher pointing to a map Retrieved from www.schoolclipart.com via Yahoo Image Search Engine.
Interactive read alouds (IRA) fact sheet www.greenwichschools. Org Teacher holding books clip
art image – teacher holding a stack of Retrieved from my cutegraphics.com via Yahoo
Image Search Engine
Kids reading clip art image – kids sitting together reading a book Retrieved from
www.mycutegraphics.com via Yahoo Image Search Engine.
Royalty- free (RF) African American Women Clipart & Illustrations #1 Retrieved from
www.clipartof.com via Yahoo Image Search Engine.
Students at school clip art image sitting at their desks in Retrieved from
www,mycutegraphics.com via Yahoo Image Search Engine.
Teacher classroom clip art cute African by MayPLdigitalArt on ersy Retrieved from
www.pininterest.com via Yahoo Image Search Engine
Teacher clip art images teacher stick photos and clipart teacher Retrieved from www.schoolclipart.com via Yahoo Image Search Engine
Teacher at smartboard clip art image – teacher standing next to a Retrieved from
mycutegraphics.com via Yahoo Image Search Engine.
Teacher at smartboard with Class clip art image – teacher standing Retrieved from
www.mycutegraphics.com via Yahoo Image Search Engine.