The purpose of this blog is to serve as an assigned requirement for EDM 510.
One of the other classes I am taking this summer is SPE 500 and the book we are reading is "Inclusion: Effective Practices for All Students (2nd Edition)" by James M. McLeskey. The last chapter I read was about collaboration, consultation, and co-teaching. As a special educator, I believe these three things are the key to successful inclusion of all students with and without disabilities. I have had numerous opportunities collaborating and consulting with support personnel, teacher assistants, general education teachers, counselors, administration, and related services personnel. Most of my experiences have been positive, but I have ran into some times that were not so positive. I would like to hear from you about your experiences in collaboration, consultation, and co-teaching. Do you think these three things are important? What are some of your successes and what are some times you found it hard to collaborate, consult, or co-teach?
Kathleen, I haven't worked much in inclusion classrooms, but I did spend a little bit of time in one during my student teaching and it was such a rewarding week, but full of hard work. The teacher had no one helping her most of the day and she said that she and her students really would have benefited if she was able to work with someone else so I definitely agree that collaboration, consultation, and co-teaching are important! In all classrooms, including inclusion. I have only taught one year so far but when I first started, I was able to consult with my mentor teacher on a lot of things from planning and implementation to classroom management and I honestly don't know what I would have done without her. She was such a huge help to me as a new teacher. We came up with some great ideas together as well during collaboration meetings with the whole English department. As far as co-teaching goes, the only experiences I had were with my partners during undergrad. Some were great and some were not so great. It is really hard to co-teach with someone who has a different vision that you do. I think it is so important when co-teaching to set goals and then decide together on how you both want to reach those goals.
ReplyDeleteCollaboration, consultation and co-teaching are very important in an inclusion classroom and any classroom. Teachers must collaborate and consult with each other within grade levels and across grade levels. I have been blessed to have wonderful teachers to work with while teaching both on grade level and above my grade level.
ReplyDeleteI have not experienced co-teaching but I believe that in order for it to be successful you must collaborate and consult with each other. I believe that as Ashleigh stated goals must be set and then decisions must be made on the best way to reach those goals.
As a educational leadership major, I have no classroom/teaching experience so I do not have much advice to provide as far as co-teaching. I can see where collaboration and consultation would be very beneficial though, especially teaching grades when the subjects begin to be broken up with different teachers. For example, I think it is important for the different teachers teaching math for grade 6 to make sure their class assignments, objectives and goals all resemble one another. This way, no student is proceeding to the next grade and math level with different information. Students will all learn the same material (not necessarily with the same teaching style).
ReplyDeleteThis past year my classroom served as the inclusion model for our school. For this, the special education teacher came to my room for 1 hour each day to co-tech. During this time she would also take small groups and work with them while I was working with anther group. This allowed the students to get two dips of small group instruction each day. The results were incredible! Inclusion is such a great experience!
ReplyDelete