Professional Documents
Culture Documents
50 Ways Keep Your Co Teacher
50 Ways Keep Your Co Teacher
50 Ways to Keep
Your Co-Teacher
Strategies for Before, During,
and After Co-Teaching
Wendy W. Murawski
Lisa Dieker
General education teacher (overheard in together in the same classroom to meet and research conducted on co-teaching.
the hallway): “Oh yeah, I used to have a the needs of individual students. For Thus, some of the hints are evidence-
special educator working with me in the true co-teaching to occur, both profes- based practices already supported in the
classroom . . . but I do not know what sionals must “co-plan, co-instruct, and research, whereas others are practices
happened to her!” co-assess a diverse group of students in suggested by experienced co-teachers.
the same general education classroom” Following each tip is a question to ask
We know! Although co-teaching may be (Murawski, 2005, p.10). With the ongo- yourself, your co-teacher, or other stake-
here to stay, co-teachers themselves do ing move toward inclusive education holders. We hope that the catchy phras-
not always stick around. As researchers, (wherein educators teach students with es will help ensure that you keep right
teacher educators, and co-teachers our- special needs in the general education on co-teaching and finding success for
selves, we are keenly aware of the classroom), co-teaching is a service both teachers and students.
issues related to obtaining—and more delivery option that educators increas-
important, keeping—good co-teaching ingly use to meet the needs of both Before Co-Teaching
teams. In fact, educators frequently teachers and students (Scruggs, 1. Hop on the bus, Gus. Volunteer to
TEACHING Exceptional Children, Vol. 40, No. 4, pp. 40-48. Copyright 2008 CEC.
relate co-teaching to a marriage; unfor- Mastropieri, & McDuffie, 2007). co-teach before anyone tells you to
tunately, research clearly indicates that Although not all educators will experi- do so. Inclusive education is not
many co-teaching marriages result in ence co-teaching, more teachers than going away. Schools increasingly
struggle, separation, or even divorce. ever before are looking for tools to help require that teachers collaborate,
This article uses humor and mnemonics make them more successful (see box, many by some form of co-teaching,
to highlight the keys to effective co- “What Does the Literature Say About because of the changes in the
teaching that research and literature Co-Teaching?”). Individuals With Disabilities Educa-
have identified. Our purpose is to clari- To rectify the problems associated tion Improvement Act (IDEA) of
fy the critical factors necessary for with co-teaching, co-teachers should 2004 and changes related to the
developing and maintaining a success- consider the following suggestions for highly qualified component of No
ful co-teaching team. before, during, and after co-teaching. Child Left Behind (2002). Get ahead
Because many of these tips overlap (for of the curve by volunteering and
Clarifying Co-Teaching example, issues related to planning
choosing a compatible partner
Co-teaching is a service delivery option occur before, during, and after co-teach-
before someone tells you that you
designed to address the needs of stu- ing is already in place), those interested
must co-teach.
dents in an inclusive classroom by hav- in co-teaching should read the entire
ing a general education teacher and a article rather than using it as a step-by- Ask yourself: Have I stepped up to
special service provider (e.g., special step checklist. Also, the authors have the plate and volunteered yet?
education teacher, speech/language based all tips on their years of experi- 2. Talk to the boss, Ross. Admin-
pathologist, Title I teacher) teach ence, experiences of other co-teachers, istrators can help provide materials,