What This Document Is
This handout provides an overview of co-teaching models commonly used in inclusive 5th-grade classrooms to support students with disabilities. It explores different approaches where general education and special education teachers collaborate to deliver instruction, aiming to meet diverse learning needs within a single classroom setting. The document draws heavily on the work of Angela Perry regarding effective co-teaching practices.
Why This Document Matters
This resource is valuable for pre-service and practicing educators in special education and general education, particularly those enrolled in courses focused on collaboration and inclusive practices like Grand Canyon University’s SPD 310. It’s used when exploring strategies for effectively integrating students with disabilities into mainstream classrooms and understanding the roles and responsibilities within a co-teaching partnership. It exists to provide a foundational understanding of the various co-teaching approaches available.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This document offers a conceptual overview and does *not* provide detailed implementation guides or lesson planning templates. It doesn’t address specific disability categories or individualized education program (IEP) considerations in depth. While it highlights the importance of communication and respect, it doesn’t offer strategies for resolving conflict or building strong co-teaching relationships. It’s a starting point, not a comprehensive manual.
What This Document Provides
This handout details six distinct co-teaching models:
* **Team Teaching:** Both teachers share instruction equally.
* **Alternative Teaching:** One teacher works with a small group for targeted instruction.
* **One Teaching, One Supporting:** One teacher leads, the other provides assistance.
* **Station Teaching:** Teachers run different learning stations.
* **Parallel Teaching:** Both teachers simultaneously teach the same content to different groups.
It also includes excerpts from Angela Perry’s work, offering real-world examples of these models in action across different grade levels and subject areas. This preview does *not* include the full text of Perry’s article or detailed examples of lesson plans utilizing these models.
