1. Co-teaching in the
Middle School
Classroom
Tanya Jury
University of Kentucky
EDL 770

2. What is Co-teaching?
• A regular education teacher and special
education teacher work as partners to teach a
group of regular education and special education
students in one classroom
• Both the regular education and special education
teachers plan, deliver, and evaluate the instruction
• The level of participation from each teacher may
vary

3. Why Co-teach?
• Allows special education students the opportunity for
inclusion in a regular education classroom
• All students receive improved instruction
• Receive support as a teacher
• Minimized behavior problems and increased learning
• More opportunity to reach a variety of learning styles

4. Barriers to Co-teaching
• “Mine versus Theirs” mentality
• Time
• Parent perceptions
• Administrative support
• Different teaching styles

5. What Does Co-teaching Look
Like in a Middle School?
• Co-teaching at Herndon Middle School
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23P69DV9d3E&
feature=player_detailpage

6. Co-teaching Models
• Lead-Support
• Pull aside groups
• Parallel teaching
• Station teaching
• Team teaching

7. Making Co-teaching Work
in Your Classroom
• Plan, plan, plan!
• Have a professional, working relationship
• Attend staff development about co-teaching
• Resolve small issues before they become big
problems
• Define each person’s roles and responsibilities

8. References
• Cooke, L. (2004). Co-teaching: Principles, practices, and pragmatics. Unpublished manuscript, New Mexico
Public Education Department, California State University, Northridge, California.
• Fairfax County Schools (2012, April 27). Co-teaching at Herndon MS. Retrieved on July 11, 2012 from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23P69DV9d3E&feature=player_detailpage
• Friend, M. (2008). Co-teaching: A simple solution that isn't simple after all. Journal of Curriculum and Instruction,
2(2), 9-19.
• Pearl, M., Maughmer, B., & McQueen, C. (1999). Co-teaching: A different approach for cooperating teachers and student
teachers. Unpublished manuscript, Association of Teacher Educators, Chicago, Illinois.