Co-teaching
A service delivery model where a special educator and a general educator share instruction of a classroom that includes students with IEPs.
Co-teaching is a service delivery model in which a special education teacher and a general education teacher share responsibility for planning, delivering, and assessing instruction in a classroom that includes students with IEPs. It is one way to deliver SDI in the least restrictive environment — students receive specialized instruction without being pulled out of the general education setting.
Effective co-teaching requires shared planning time, clear roles, and genuine parity between the two teachers. Common models include one-teach-one-assist, station teaching, parallel teaching, alternative teaching, and team teaching. Which model is used varies by lesson and content.
Co-teaching is not the same as a special educator "pushing in" to observe. For SDI purposes, the special educator must be actively providing specialized instruction, not just present in the room.
Related terms
- SDISpecially Designed Instruction: the adapted content, methodology, or delivery of instruction a student with an IEP needs to make progress.
- LREIDEA's requirement that students with disabilities be educated with non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate.
- IEPA legally binding written plan for a student with a disability that spells out the specialized instruction and services the school will provide.
Managing Co-teaching day-to-day?
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