June 27
3:15 – 4:15pm
Room: Knox
Bellefontaine City Schools changed its thinking on co-teaching at the district and building levels. Hear about their story and lessons learned and get information you can take back to your district and school to encourage and support co-teaching partners.
Main Presenter: Karen Scott, Bellefontaine City Schools
Co-Presenter(s): Shanel Henry, Bellefontaine Middle School
2. Prior to 1993 all students with disabilities were serviced in resource
rooms
1997 began having Intervention Specialist work more closely with
General Education Teacher. Recourse room option only for students
with severe cognitive and behavioral disabilities
Moving in direction of Co-teaching during the early 2000s yet
Intervention Specialist job was still viewed as the one who provide
service to IEP students
2008/09 began our involvement with the Ohio Improvement Progress
(OIP). Co-
2010/11 Teachers who co-teach are giving common planning time
5-step process being used at building level
BCS History with servicing
6. Survey at the beginning of the 2011/12 school year
showed that teachers in Co-Taught classes wanted more
resources and professional development.
Staff survey
9. Co-Teaching Philosophy
Co-teaching is a partnership in which classroom
responsibilities are shared, instruction is well planned and
delivered to meet the diverse needs of all the students in
the classroom.
as a result of book study
10. Conference with Dr. Marilyn Friend
From Co-ACT; 3 areas looked at:
Personal Prerequisites
Professional Relationship
Classroom Dynamics
Some areas within district where the gen ed teacher does not
view the inclusion teacher as doing their job
Action Plan was also created at this conference
Follow-up survey
11. Action Plan
Continue to support co-teaching partners with common
planning time and form
Provide co-teaching partners with ongoing professional
development
Classroom data
Take the videos clips we have of co-teaching to use in
professional development.
Move our co-teaching beyond the traditional gen ed/sp ed
partnership to include gifted, title, and ESL
14. Changes - start small
Use plural language
Plural language within the co-taught classroom.
Both names on door etc.
Survey staff Colorado Assessment of Co-Teaching (CO-ACT)
Putting two teachers in a room in itself is not co-teaching
Support: planning time and PD
First day of school is crucial in setting the tone that this is a co-
taught class. Both teachers need to be in front of the class.
Find the teacher-leaders in your buildings and empower them.
They are there!
