1. Co-Teaching Helps All Students Succeed
Marie Cianca, Ed.D.
June, 2009 Model Schools Conference

2. 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?

3. 54 Million

4. 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 <

5. 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 <

6. Why Co-teach?
6,634,000
Children with disabilities served, ages (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 )

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

8. Benefits of Co-teaching
Professional growth
Differentiation
Teacher access
Behavior management
Student engagement

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. Co-Teaching Approaches
Six Corners

14. Marilyn Friend’s 6 Models of Co-Teaching
One teach, one Observe
Parallel Teaching
A one teach, one Assist
Station Teaching
Team Teaching
Alternative Teaching

15. Effective Ineffective
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

16. What to consider when co-teaching…
Working Styles
Learning Styles

18. Suggested Readings
Strengthen Your Coteaching Relationship Jan Stivers. Intervention in School and Clinic. Austin: Nov Vol. 44, Iss. 2;  pg. 121, 5 pgs
Choose Colleagues Before Friends for Teaching Teams Daniel L Kain. The Education Digest. Ann Arbor: Sep 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 Vol. 32, Iss. 3;  pg. 1, 18 pgs
Myths and misunderstandings about professional collaboration Marilyn Friend. Remedial and Special Education. Austin: May/Jun Vol. 21, Iss. 3;  pg. 130, 4 pgs

19. Suggested Readings
Understanding coteaching components Susan E Gately, Frank J Gately Jr. Teaching Exceptional Children. Reston: Mar/Apr 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 Vol. 36, Iss. 5; pg. 52, 7 pgs