Co-teaching builds inclusion opportunities

Co-teaching is an ideal way to include students with special needs and extend differentiation to other students as well, says special-educator and author Mindy Fattig. Sharing responsibilities allows colleagues to build an equal relationship without the special-education teacher feeling like a "glorified aide," she writes. Teacher Magazine

The general education teacher brings content knowledge and the special education teacher brings differentiation strategies. Your mutual competence benefits every student. It is hard for a special education teacher to not feel like a "glorified aide," but by sharing the responsibilities of grading and planning you can become co-teachers. It is especially rewarding when a student asks the general ed teacher why his answer was marked incorrect and that teacher responds, "You need to ask Ms. Smith, since we both graded papers."