Students with special needs are more likely to spend most or all of the school day in a typical classroom than they did in the past, when separate classrooms were the norm. As a result, teachers are faced with the challenge of teaching students with a wide array of learning needs. Marilyn Friend suggests that coteaching, a partnership in which a…

Explains the concept of coteaching in the mainstream, which involves a special education and a regular education teacher teaming in the classroom. The article notes coteaching creates a dynamic, high-energy classroom situation that promotes increased learning for students and teachers. Two teachers discuss their experiences with teaming. (SM)

The development and current status of coteaching to meet the needs of students with disabilities in mainstream settings are reviewed. Issues are identified concerning resources (finances, time, and space); participants (role clarification of both professionals and paraprofessionals); and implementation (the need for documentation of coteaching…