Getting Ready to Work Together
Co-teaching in Greenville Schools
Dr. Wendy Balough
wbalough@rhmail.org
Today’s Topics:
 Intros and Overview
 Models of Co-Teaching
 The Two of Us – a partnership
 There are 6 Co-Teaching Arrangements
 Sorting and Grouping Students
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Co-Teaching
Considerations
Co-planning and Co-planning Documents
Parting Tips
Co-teaching is really all about teaming. Whether you and your partner(s) chose to work together or were
told you would work together (an arranged marriage), you are on the same team.
Teams are made of individuals, and that’s what makes is SO very interesting! To kick off our workshop, we’ll
start with developing lists to share.
General Educators – Develop a “Dream
List” that answers the question “What would you
like most from a special education teacher”?
Special Educators – What skills, abilities,
Key Components
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of Successful Co-Teaching
Defined roles and responsibilities
Varied instructional arrangements
Starting with a plan and commitment to
ongoing co-planning
Formal information sharing
Administrative understanding and support
Appropriate levels of modification
and materials do you have to offer?
Co-Teaching SHOULD Be:
Co-Teaching SHOULD NOT Be:
Be sure to develop a school SHOULD/SHOULD NOT list and review these guidelines every semester!
W. Balough
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August, 2012
Getting Ready to Work Together
Co-teaching in Greenville Schools
Benefits for General Education Teachers
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SpEd teacher knows what’s going on in the general
classroom
Receive background information on students with
special needs
Receive help meeting individual student learning
styles
Awareness of more/different teaching strategies
Become better equipped to help students with
special needs
Assistance to non-identified students who need
more
More time to focus on content and less on individual
problems
SpEd teacher provides feedback on content
presentation
Negative student behaviors decreased
Twice as much opportunity for teacher assistance
Two role models for acceptable, productive
behavior
SpEd teacher monitors organizational skills and
student efforts
Professional growth…Greater personal satisfaction
Free to go to the bathroom!
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Benefits for General Education Students
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Time effective
Don’t have to be a content expert
More opportunities to use the specialized skills for
which you’ve been trained
Know daily expectations of the General
classroom/teacher
Exposure to normalized environment and curriculum
Improved student behaviors
Positive feedback from parents
Rewarding to see students succeed and establish
credibility among their peers
Teacher/student relationship is more pleasant
Another adult to help support attainment of IEP
goals
Ability to spend more time & energy helping
students develop motivation, effort, &
responsibility for their own learning
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Moral support from a fellow colleague
W. Balough
More emphasis on learning skills, organization, &
preparedness
Opportunities for leadership through peer tutoring
More contact time with teachers for school &
personal issues
Greater sense of responsibility
Diverse learning opportunities
Have a better understanding of students with
different abilities
Improved self-esteem
Unique learning needs met
More productive learning experiences
Two teachers to help
More time spent working cooperatively
Benefits for Students with Special Needs
Benefits for Special Education Teachers
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Mutual learning and appreciation for each other’s
expertise
Professional growth…greater personal satisfaction
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Like school more
Improved self-esteem
Improved citizenship
Learning in the general classroom environment
Allowed to grown & learn in the least restrictive
environment
Contribute within the general education class
Get to stay with friends
More emphasis on learning skills, organization, &
preparedness
More chance for reinforcement on classwork when
it’s presented
Around students with appropriate behaviors and
successful learning skills
More contact time with teachers for school and
personal issues
Greater sense of responsibility
Take more risks with less fear
of failure
Learn to set realistic goals
Better grades/more meaningful
grades
Less stigma
August, 2012
What Is The Difference Between
Co-teaching and Supported Instruction?
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W. Fetner Dover, 2006
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W. Fetner Dover, 2006