Although collaboration among service providers has been a hallmark of special education almost since its inception, co-teaching, the sharing of instruction by a general education teacher and a special education teacher or another specialist in a general education class that includes students with disabilities, is a relatively recent application.…

Co-teaching, the pairing of general and special education teachers in a general education classroom, requires a high degree of expertise on the part of both teachers. Done well, it can be compared to a strong marriage--partners sharing and planning, reflecting and changing. Done poorly, it can be described as a blind date--co-teachers just waiting…

A study examined co-teaching in secondary classrooms by interviewing and observing six secondary special educators in co-taught and special education classrooms. The educators took on various roles when co-teaching and in three of the four roles they assumed, they participated in some aspect of instruction to the general education class. (Contains…

Thirty-two qualitative investigations of co-teaching in inclusive classrooms were included in a metasynthesis employing qualitative research integration techniques. It was concluded that co-teachers generally supported co-teaching, although a number of important needs were identified, including planning time, student skill level, and training;…

This study examined the various teaching roles engaged in by four primary-grade special education teachers of students who are deaf or hard of hearing in co-enrollment classes with hearing students. Results indicated that most teachers engaged in teaching deaf students only, followed by teaching the whole class, and interpreting. (Contains…

Describes four teaming roles for special educators of the deaf and general educators. Specific functions of both the general and special educator are given for: (1) pre/post assessment of knowledge and skills of content; (2) organization of learning experiences; (3) provision of instruction; and (4) monitoring student participation. (DB)

Meeting the needs of students with disabilities in general education classrooms requires collaboration between general and special education teachers. In this article, the challenges of co-teaching at the secondary level are explored through the voices of general and special education teachers who co-taught in inclusive classrooms at a large…

Discusses the experience of including a deaf and academically delayed student in a middle school classroom. Notes the team teachers' and students' efforts to modify instructional and social situations to benefit all students, including modifying assignments, participating in class activities, using the community as a classroom, and assigning…

To successfully reach out to a diversity of learners requires substantial support. The Digest addresses some sources of support intended as a complement to and a scaffold for teachers and administrators who experiment with different ways of meeting a diversity of learning needs. It highlights ways in which classroom teachers and learning center…

Addresses ways in which general and deaf educators can work together in inclusive settings. Specific suggestions are offered for both the general educator and deaf educator in the areas of behavior, placement, emotional observation, deaf culture, inservice training, team meetings, peers, and families. (DB)

A case study of a secondary general educator involved in a collaborative-teaching model in an inclusive suburban high school, found that replicating and sustaining collaborative teaching can be difficult, complex and, without careful consideration of contextual variables, may not lead to improved outcomes for teachers or students. (Author/CR)

This analysis of the changing role of the special educator to that of the inclusion specialist reviews the logic of these changes, presents results of research on the role of the inclusion specialist, analyzes the limitations of these changing roles, and presents an alternative view of professional roles in which teachers share the teaching of a…

This qualitative study examines the perspectives of 14 teachers of students with severe disabilities whose role changed from special education teacher to integration facilitator. All 14 participants expressed strong beliefs that students with severe disabilities would learn more in an integrated environment. The teachers identified themselves as…

This paper describes the use of cooperative teaching to teach all students in the general education classroom and the three most promising approaches to implementing cooperative teaching: team teaching, supportive learning activities, and complementary instruction. The first method, team teaching, is defined as having the initial presentation of…

Co-teaching approaches to support students with disabilities in inclusive secondary classrooms were investigated through interviews with and classroom observations of 17 teachers. Data collected in Queensland (Australia) and Pennsylvania (USA) public schools allowed comparisons of teacher roles and responsibilities under two education systems. The…