Our Students 100% of the Time

Special Education for the Regular Education Teacher – Team Teaching

By Mary IgnatowskiSeptember 2012

Introduction

Did you know our high school has had team teaching for years? This is not new.

Last spring, regular education teachers were asked if they would be willing to team teach this year.

There is no District plan/format required for team teaching. Each team is allowed to make professional decisions about how to proceed.

Why Are We Team Teaching?

Go to the following web site and complete the activity: http://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/huntthe808me.html

What is the 80/80 Rule?

63% of special education students need to be in regular classrooms 80% of the time.

It’s commonly called the 80/80 Rule because each year the State is increasing the requirement.

Eventually, we will be required to have 80% of our special education students in regular classrooms 80% of the time.

Getting Started

Watch the following two Arizona Advocates videos:

How to Get Started in Special Education

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WBn6WfSyTk What Is A 504 Plan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IALETE9BY4

IEP & 504 – Follow the Rules

You will have more special needs students than you ever had before.

Read through their IEPs and 504s. Make sure you understand their accommodations.

You MUST follow ALL accommodations.

Mine, Yours, Ours

Team Teaching does NOT mean you teach your regular ed students and the special ed teachers their special ed students.

Every special ed student that walks in your door is YOUR student too! Both teachers are there to teach every student in the class.

They are all OUR students 100% of the time.

Getting Started

Most regular education teachers have only a basic understanding about learning disabilities.

Get your class list, IEPs & 504s and go to the following web site:

Know Your Students

Use your class lists, IEPs, 504s and the Hotlist to fill out your Organizational Chart.

Identifying Our Students An Internet Hotlist on Learning Disabilities

http://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/listldme.html

Know Your Team

Team Teaching is NOT having an extra helper in the room.

Team Teaching IS two professionals who are responsible for ALL the students on their team.

Are you ready? Is your school ready?

Two Checklists to Start

With your teammate, fill in the School Readiness Checklist …

Two Checklists to Start

. . . And the Co-Teaching Checklist.

Types of Co-Teaching

Parallel Teaching Team Teaching One Teach, One Assist Station Teaching Alternative Teaching

http://www.brighthubeducation.com/special-ed-inclusion-strategies/4096-co-teaching-and-different-styles-of-co-teaching/ http://www.magonline.org/CoTeachingInTheClassroomREVMAGPrese

ntation.pdf

What Do They Look Like?

Go to the following web site for a good PDF presentation about Co-Teaching. It shows how each style would look in your room and explains strengths and weaknesses of each.

http://www.magonline.org/CoTeachingInTheClassroomREVMAGPresentation.pdf

Which Style? Who Does What?

Once you decide on your team style, who will do what?

Fill out the Roles & Responsibilities sheet.

Who Does What? Continued.

Roles & Responsibilites came from Dr. Ray A. Villa’s website. He also has suggestions for Teachers Actions During Co-Teaching

Who Does What? Continued.

Read Teacher Actions sheet. Now make it yours by filling out the Your Turn sheet for your team.

Time to Begin

You know the laws and contractual obligations.

You have looked at your class lists and learned a little about teaching the special needs child.

You have begun to build your cooperative team.

Now it’s time to dive in!

Our Students 100% of the Time

Just remember, no matter what happens this year, no matter what team teaching style you choose, your students have the benefit of two professionals working with them this year.

This year is not a matter of mine vs. yours. They are all OUR students, and together WE can offer them more.

Good luck!

Additional Resources

Michigan Department of Education - Special Education http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-6530_6598_31834---,00.html

Co-Teaching Lessons Database http://2teachllc.com/lessons.html

Exercises to Simulate Disabilities http://www.csun.edu/~sp20558/dis/ladinstruc.html

Co-Teaching: General and Special Educators Working Together http://nichcy.org/schoolage/effective-practices/coteaching

Co-Teaching A Tale of Two Teachers http://www.nbpts.org/userfiles/File/Bost-Co- Teaching_Bost_Woodson_NBPTS_Conf_09.pdf

The Ten Commandments of Team Teaching http://news.stanford.edu/news/2006/march15/team-031506.html

Tips & Strategies for Co-Teaching at the Secondary Level http://www.senia.asia/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Tips-and-strategies-for-co-teaching-at-the-secondary-level.pdf