What is Co-teaching and What Co-teaching is Not

What is Co-teaching

            Co-teaching is the partnership between a general educator and a special educator. According to Spencer Salend author of Creating Inclusive Classrooms both the special educator and the general educator work together in educating a diverse group of students. Both teachers “share responsibility and accountability for planning and delivering instruction, evaluating, grading and disciplining students” (2011, p.144). The Making Collaborative Teaching more Effective for Academically able Students: Recommendations for Implementation and Training article by Paul Gerber and Patricia Popp states that “The general educator shares expertise in all aspects of curriculum, effective teaching, and large-group instruction, whereas the special educator contributes knowledge in such areas as learning styles and strategies, clinical teaching, and behavior management” (2000, p.1). This means that both teachers bring their strengths and expertise to the classroom. This partnership of knowledge from both teachers can help all students learn in the classroom whether the receive special education services or not.

What Co-teaching is not

          It is important to realize that co-teaching is a true partnership between the special educator the general educator and not one teacher making all the decisions and doing all the work. According to the Utah State of Education Co-Teaching Handbook as seen in figure one co-teaching is not “a special educator working only with students with disabilities” (2011, p.3). The special educator along with the general educator is working with all students and both are responsible for all the students in the classroom. The special educator is also not there to just assist students; the special educator is there to teach alongside the general educator.