Co Teaching : An Illustration Of The Complexity Of Collaboration

General education should promote collaboration to increase an effective quality education for student in an inclusive classroom (Argan, 2014). This can be done a multitude of ways. Paraeducators can be included in planning activities in the classroom (Argan, 2014). By incorporating paraeducators, general education teachers and special education teachers can get a different perspective on how an activity may look or what

Educators working closely together will allows students to receive the best possible instruction in the classroom. “Strong collaboration for the delivery of education services involves all the various education professionals serving a school building or district” (pg. 3). One of the major issues with the identification of poor performing students is if it has anything to do with the delivery of the instruction, or the instruction itself. Collaboration is an excellent way to make sure that the students receiving the best possible instruction to increase the academic knowledge. Teachers that are struggling have the opportunity to work with reading and special education professionals to work on implementing appropriate lessons in the classroom. “The classroom teachers, reading specialists, and special education professionals collaborate in planning and implementing the intervention” (pg. 3). This intervention and collaboration should not be seen as a negative, but as a positive because they are all working together to help the teacher use the correct instruction that is going to benefit each and every

Co-teaching is important, especially in the school I did my special education field experience at because they are full inclusion. This school district did co-teaching for math and reading. Students receive their assistance with in the classroom while the teacher is instructing class. It takes a lot of planning and collaboration with the classroom teacher, I believe this is not the most beneficial way to teach students that have learning needs. it can become very distracting for the student because what is going on around them. Learning with their peers is important, the instructions their receiving in the classroom are above their level. I wonder how this is providing the best education possible?

The article goes into great detail over the fact that co-teaching, when implemented correctly, has the potential of really enhancing the learning of all students (Conderman & Hedin, 2014, p.359). Before any co-teaching can happen though the article elaborates on the fact that a teacher needs to know who their students are. And when differentiating instruction a teacher needs to be able to address a “students’ unique strengths, interest, skills, and readiness” (Conderman & Hedin, 2014, p. 353). After all helping each child learn, whatever that looks like, is the ultimate goal, and this article shows how teachers can do this with a co-teacher.

I approach collaboration as a team player, and I believe students need more than one person to guide them to their full educational potential. Also, active and prepared participation of weekly PLC meetings with the teachers of my special education students to plan collaborative curriculum have increased results in math and reading substantially. Participating in co-teaching furthers my repertoire of knowledge to assist my students. I have learned a vast amount from sharing and consulting with colleagues regarding students, observing mentoring teachers, and planning activities to ensure growth in students.

In the following study researchers compared two instructional approaches; co-teaching inclusion and solo-taught special education for students with learning disabilities in regard to their overall academic achievement. Participants of the study included twelve inclusive/co-teaching classrooms, which were compared to thirteen special education classrooms. In the co-teaching contexts the emphasis was centered on the inclusion of students with learning disabilities into a general education classroom. Co-teachers were free to choose the instructional method they would embark. Special education teachers solely instructed students with learning disabilities in small group classrooms.

The purpose of this research is to understand the perceptions and experiences of professionals on collaboration in the educational environment. Data collection will occur within the Virginia Beach City Public School (VBCPS) system. Specifically targeted will be three elementary schools that I work in being Ocean Lakes Elementary School, Princess Anne Elementary School and Red Mill Elementary School. The people that volunteer to take part will include VBCPS staff involved with the Individualized Education Program (IEP) for special needs students in any one of the above identified schools, and has been part of an initial eligibility, new IEP, current IEP, or consulted on as part of the IEP process.

One factor that plays a huge role in successful implementation of integrated co-teaching and has better outcomes for students is when the co-teachers are trained and work together. Magiera and Zigmond (2005) preformed a study at four middle schools in New York that focused on the instructional practices for students with and without disabilities; with teachers who were not trained in integrated co-teaching

Collaboration between teachers is a key component to professional development that will lead to higher student achievement. There is a need for schools to set up time for teachers to be able to collaborate together. This allows for teachers to help each other, matchup content, teach each other new and best practices, troubleshoot student issues just to name a few of the areas that collaboration time can help foster within a school. The key is to build time for teachers to be able to collaborate during the school day or week. This collaboration time needs to be between grade levels, departments, and cross curricular when needed. For many schools this is an afterthought to the school schedule or a fleeting thought after the master schedule is completed. A principal needs to keep an open mind to any strategy that will enable the teachers to be able to collaborate for the good of the students and the school.

The last CEC standard reviews the importance of effective and production collaboration between families, service providers, educators, community agencies, and most importantly individuals with exceptionalities. Although I have collaborated with other educational professionals for seventeen years, I did not understand the components and strategies for effective collaboration until completing the graduate program. After completing the course, I have changed some of the ways and manners in which I collaborate with other education professionals and families of individuals with special needs. Since changing the ways in which I collaborate, I can tell a positive change in my professional and personal relationships with others.

I have had opportunities to co-teach n which some were excellent experiences and some were not so good. In the excellent experiences, they were always with teachers I was very comfortable with and that I knew well. We were able to bounce thoughts and ideas off each other, even during the lesson. The students were engaged and really seemed to enjoy those experiences. In the opportunities that were not so good, it created a very uncomfortable environment. The two teachers did not appear as equals. One teacher appeared more as the extra in the room. The students could sense this and typically only engaged with the lead teacher. Students can learn so much by having the experience of two different teachers, two different strategies, two different learning styles. It gives the students the opportunity to look at things in different ways. This promotes an overall stronger understanding for all students. It can be accomplished with an open, accepting understanding that both teachers are working toward the same

The field of education is dramatically changing at an unprecedented rate. For example, a greater percentage of students are identified with autism than in the past ten years. The general education teacher is becoming more and more aware of special needs students due to inclusionary practices and must adapt his/her curriculum to help all students achieve. This can be a roadblock for the general education teacher if the special education teacher is consistently relied on for help. The increase in the special education population is now requiring more educators to be dually certified in order to service all students in all situations.

Collaborating with children will be important because they are able to provide feedback on learning, give suggestion about what they are interested in learning, and create plans to execute learning. As the teacher I am giving my students the freedom to carry out their own learning within boundaries with me there to support them (Bredekamp, 2014). Collaborating with families is important as well because they are the experts on their child (Mcafee & Leong, 2007). I will do this by communicating clearly, honestly, and sensitively with each child’s family. When working with families I will look at them as an equal partner. Both the teacher and the family member(s) can provide information about the child that can tailor instruction to best suit their needs (Gonzalez-Mena, 2002). Communicating and working with other professionals will also an essential aspect of being a teacher. Other professionals will be able to bring insights about particular situations and provide ways to improve instruction, flow of classroom, and outcome of learning and/or behavior. Overall, to maintain all of these collaborative relationships it is essential to continue to reflect on what is working, what can be improved, and what the goals are we working towards (Sandall & Schwartz, 2002). After having the opportunity to observe and work in a variety of classroom settings, I was able to see how successful collaborative relationships can foster the development of young children. For example, I was working in a preschool classroom had a special education teacher working in the classroom with a student and applied some of the accommodations throughout the room. While talking to the special education teacher, I realized that these accommodations (hand fidgets, visual schedule, and looking at the classroom setting/environment and how it makes the students

Collaboration in the world of education has become an increasingly popular method of addressing a variety of school issues, such as curriculum design, behavioral plans, professional development and management of resources. One of the areas in which collaboration is becoming more popular is co-teaching in special education, where special education teachers and general education teachers share the planning and instruction responsibilities for inclusion classrooms (Friend & Cook, 2010). As academic standards for the education of students with disabilities are held to the same standards as their typical peers due to the No Child Left Behind Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the co-teaching model has been increasingly

Fundamentally the role of the classroom teacher is to implement strategies to support, engage and extend the learning of all individuals. In order for this to occur we need to also consider how we involve, collaborate and communicate with parents, fellow colleagues and specialised teachers. Ashman and Elkins (2008) state that teachers need to make themselves aware of the support systems they can access or create to support the needs of all students. This in turn will ultimately enhance teaching potential allowing teachers to fully maximise learning for all. I personally believe that collaboration is not only essential to the professional growth of teachers (Cramer & Stivers, 2007), but a vital key when acting in the best interest of the students and their families.