Co-Teaching The Power of Two... The Reality…Following the Philosophy

The Reality…Following the Philosophy

PRESENTERS Robin Frederick: 7th grade intervention specialist/DH Loretta Fansler: 7th grade intervention specialist/LD Brad Fuhrer: 7th grade social studies & all around nice guy

Robin Frederick: 7th grade intervention specialist/DH

Loretta Fansler: 7th grade intervention specialist/LD

Brad Fuhrer: 7th grade social studies & all around nice guy

Tiffin, Ohio Tiffin “ The Education Community”

Tiffin Middle School 6th,7th & 8th grades 2 teams, each grade Total population- 734 Special needs students- 115 Programs: LD, DH, & SBH Cross-categorical: TBI, HI, OHI, tourettes, autism, etc,...

6th,7th & 8th grades

2 teams, each grade

Total population- 734

Special needs students- 115

Programs: LD, DH, & SBH

Cross-categorical: TBI, HI, OHI, tourettes, autism, etc,...

History of Co-teaching at TMS 1993- Reorganized to a Middle School 1993- Inclusion of DH students in Ohio History & Health (LD students mainstreamed) 1994- Inclusion of LD students in Civics 1996-Block scheduling which allowed common planning time 1996- Inclusion of LD students in Math 1998- Inclusion of DH students in Science 2002- Lack of funds, schedule flexibility...

1993- Reorganized to a Middle School

1993- Inclusion of DH students in Ohio History & Health (LD students mainstreamed)

1994- Inclusion of LD students in Civics

1996-Block scheduling which allowed common planning time

1996- Inclusion of LD students in Math

1998- Inclusion of DH students in Science

2002- Lack of funds, schedule flexibility...

History Continued... 2003- no team planning 2004- still no team planning, damn it! 2005- inclusion in: social studies science math “ Our fearless leader”

2003- no team planning

2004- still no team planning, damn it!

2005- inclusion in:

social studies

science

math

I can’t take it anymore! We love our jobs! Co-Teaching Before After

Before After Co-Teaching

Inclusion Traditional & Co-Teaching LD mainstreamed, serviced in Resource room No modified tests & worksheets More discipline problems More classroom management problems Lower success rate • Students serviced in the classroom • Modified tests & worksheets • Fewer discipline problems • Fewer classroom management problems • Higher success rates for all students

LD mainstreamed, serviced in Resource

room

No modified tests & worksheets

More discipline problems

More classroom management problems

Lower success rate

Inclusion Philosophy Vs. Reality All students should have the opportunity to learn in the mainstream with specialized services provided Inclusion: meeting needs of all students in the classroom with in class support • Can they? Not without a lot of work! Modify, adapt, modify, adapt and then do it some more! • Yes, two heads are better than one!

All students should have the opportunity to learn in the mainstream with specialized services provided

Inclusion: meeting needs of all students in the classroom with in class support

Inclusion Philosophy Vs. Reality Collaboration: teachers, students, parents, administrators Belief that students with disabilities should be integrated into the mainstream whether or not they can meet traditional curricular standards • Ha! Ha! • Not all staff members will support inclusion or team teaching

Collaboration: teachers, students, parents, administrators

Belief that students with disabilities should be integrated into the mainstream whether or not they can meet traditional curricular standards

Inclusion Philosophy Vs. Reality Teacher planning, collaboration, and training is necessary for success • Just do it!

Teacher planning, collaboration, and training is necessary for success

Volunteers Needed: General Education Teachers Special Education Teachers

General Education Teachers

Special Education Teachers

Qualifications Risk taker Open to suggestions Open to criticism Student advocate Flexible

Risk taker

Open to suggestions

Open to criticism

Student advocate

Flexible

Types of Teaching Reverse Inclusion One teach, One drift Diversified study time Classroom consistency Preparation on demand Interactive teaching Humor in the classroom Break away

Reverse Inclusion

One teach, One drift

Diversified study time

Classroom consistency

Preparation on demand

Interactive teaching

Humor in the classroom

Break away

Strategies & Ideas Whip around Fact of the day Technology (smartboard, powerpoint, phonic ear) Folders Study guides Adapted/modified tests, worksheets Community/school projects (friendly competitions between homerooms) Incentive programs (TEAM TMS, Blue Crew Bucks, Stamps, Lunch Bunch, Student of the Month , the Month of Manners, bug roll)

Whip around

Fact of the day

Technology (smartboard, powerpoint, phonic ear)

Folders

Study guides

Adapted/modified tests, worksheets

Community/school projects (friendly competitions between homerooms)

Incentive programs (TEAM TMS, Blue Crew Bucks, Stamps, Lunch Bunch, Student of the Month , the Month of Manners, bug roll)

More Strategies & Ideas Think write Happy grams Case managing Skim & Shift Books on tape Class room starters Question of the week

Think write

Happy grams

Case managing

Skim & Shift

Books on tape

Class room starters

Question of the week

Even More Strategies & Ideas Tag Team reading Word of the Day Lame Games Color Overlays Slantboards

Tag Team reading

Word of the Day

Lame Games

Color Overlays

Slantboards

Are Two Heads Better Than One? Let’s Ask the Experts

Survey says... Do you get more help when there are 2 teachers in the room? Do you behave differently when there are 2 teachers in the room? Do you ask more questions when there are 2 teachers in the room? Do you get better grades in the inclusion classes than the other classes? Yes No 89% 11% 34% 66% 44% 56% 74% 26%

Do you get more help when there are 2 teachers in the room?

Do you behave differently when there are 2 teachers in the room?

Do you ask more questions when there are 2 teachers in the room?

Do you get better grades in the inclusion classes than the other classes?

More Survey Results... • Do you do a better job on your homework in your inclusion classes? • Do you answer more questions in your inclusion classes? • Do you pay closer attention to the teacher in your inclusion classes? • Do you wish all of your classes could be inclusion classes? Yes No 77% 23% 49% 51% 72% 28% 70% 30%

Student Benefits Increased homework completion rate More opportunity for teacher contact throughout the day Opportunity to respond increases More students get assistance Seeking assistance is commonplace Helps students build relationships with teachers

Increased homework completion rate

More opportunity for teacher contact throughout the day

Opportunity to respond increases

More students get assistance

Seeking assistance is commonplace

Helps students build relationships with teachers

More Student Benefits Learning modes are more easily accommodated Opportunity for individual, small group or large group instruction Daily work habits are reinforced and monitored (KST) Social acceptance Conducive to parent support

Learning modes are more easily accommodated

Opportunity for individual, small group or large group instruction

Daily work habits are reinforced and monitored (KST)

Social acceptance

Conducive to parent support

Teacher Benefits Not isolated (no man is an island) Fun Brainstorming Parent conferences are more effective Share and learn expertise and strategies More innovation (Ruts-R-Us no more!) Fewer discipline problems Incidental collaboration

Not isolated (no man is an island)

Fun

Brainstorming

Parent conferences are more effective

Share and learn expertise and strategies

More innovation (Ruts-R-Us no more!)

Fewer discipline problems

Incidental collaboration

More Teaching Benefits Teacher chores are shared Shared accountability Change of routine due to teacher absence is kept to a minimum

Teacher chores are shared

Shared accountability

Change of routine due to teacher absence is kept to a minimum

In conclusion... Teaching is the profession that makes all other professions possible. Thank you for attending our presentation.

Teaching is the profession that makes all other professions possible.