Co-teaching, by Gail Enoch, 6th – 8th grade Language Arts Teacher at Watertown Middle School

A co-taught classroom can be described as one where general and special educators share responsibility for the planning, delivery, and evaluation of instruction for a class.  It is essential that both educators respect the roles and personalities of one another and design lessons based on each person’s strengths.  The students must view both teachers as having an equal role both in instruction and classroom management.

Common co-teaching structures include:  

• Lead and Support – One teacher leads while the other offers assistance to individual or small groups of students.
• Parallel Teaching – Both teachers present the same content but use different instructional methods.
• Alternative Teaching – One teacher works with a small group while the other teacher works with the rest of the class.
• Station Teaching – Both teachers develop centers and students rotate through the activities.
• Team Teaching – Both teachers share the planning and instruction of students in a coordinated fashion.

In a co-taught classroom, students with and without disabilities benefit from having the support of two educators.  Content should be individualized to fit students’ learning styles and social needs.  Students with disabilities feel connected with their peer group while still receiving specialized instruction.