Co-Teaching, a partnership between “two or more professionals delivering substantive instruction to a diverse or blended group of students in a single physical space” (Cook & Friend, 1995), has the potential to provide a successful means for students with disabilities to receive high standard instruction in their least restrictive environment. Also seen as a viable strategy for schools struggling with the task of improving test scores for students with disabilities. Schools that are interested in implementing the co-teaching model for the first time or those wanting to improve an existing program should give careful consideration to how decisions made in the spring could positively or negatively impact the program’s outcomes in the next school year.
To assist schools in decision making, the Arkansas Co-Teaching Project has made arrangements for Dr. Lisa Dieker, one of the foremost leading national experts on co-teaching, to present a free one-hour webinar on how to create an effective co-teaching program on May 1. Building principals, special education supervisors, instructional facilitators, co-teachers, and others involved in implementation planning should attend.
The webinar will be broadcasted between 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM. See the attached information sheet for instructions on joining the webinar and accessing the handouts.
Topics to be covered during the webinar include:
- Co-Teaching Model – what it is and what it is not
- How co-teaching can assist your school in improving student outcomes
- Indicators of effective co-teaching programs
- Common implementation obstacles and strategies to address them
- Available resources, including professional development options
In addition to hosting Dr. Dieker’s webinar, the Arkansas Co-Teaching Project provides free telephone and e-mail technical assistance to schools to assist in co-teaching implementation planning.
For more information about the webinar, the co-teaching model, or to obtain technical assistance, contact Susan Friberg at 479-965-2191 or susan.friberg@arkansas.gov or Rose Merry Kirkpatrick at 501-834-3330 or rosemerry.kirkpatrick@arkansas.gov.