Co-Teaching is the preferred method of delivering special education instruction to Cloverleaf students. It is a flexible system built around the belief that collaborative teaming of regular education teachers and intervention specialists (special education teachers & tutors) is more effective than relying on one teacher alone. 

There are many different ways to engage in co-teaching. The Co-Teaching/Teaming document to the left provides a number of descriptions and examples of how co-teaching can be developed.

What Does Co-Teaching Look Like at Cloverleaf? 

Cloverleaf has been using co-teaching to deliver instruction to our students eligible for special education supports since the 2005-2006 school year. We have teachers and intervention specialists who work together in so many different ways it would be extremely difficult to describe them all. The following list explains the general formats we currently support as we transition to a new elementary building:

• LODI: Two Intervention Specialists each work with a 1st and a 2nd grade teacher for approximately half of each school day. When the co-teaching team isn't together, a specially trained paraprofessional assists the general education teacher in carrying out adaptations for those in need. One Intervention Specialist also teaches "self-contained" material and consults with general education teachers as needed.
• SEVILLE: Two Intervention Specialists, one at 3rd grade and one at 4th, each work with two teachers to provide services. An additional Intervention Specialist will be teaching self-contained Language Arts & Math for the 2011-2012 school year.
• WESTFIELD: Two Intervention Specialists work with grade level teams of general education teachers to cover content and to deliver adapted instruction or support for 5th grade students. Some Language Arts & Math will be taught via small group settings as well. One additional Intervention Specialist teaches students with Multiple Disabilities in a resource room setting.
• MIDDLE SCHOOL: For the 2011-2012 school year, plans call for seven Intervention Specialists to collaborate with grade level teams of general education teachers to cover content and to deliver adapted instruction or support for 6th, 7th, & 8th grade students. These Intervention Specialists focus on specific subject matter as much as possible to maintain "highly qualified" status. Some resource sections of key subject areas will be offered in 2011-2012 to better differentiate our instruction.
• HIGH SCHOOL: Intervention Specialists & tutors engage in co-teaching activities in classes containing a number of special education eligible students, while at least two additional Intervention Specialists teach core academic classes via a self-contained model.

Do you have good ideas about improving co-teaching at Cloverleaf? 

Are there materials you would like to see posted here?