Week 3 - Discussion 1ESE633: Collaborative Relationships & Transition

This discussion is your opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the objective analyze ways to create a collaborative school culture to promote professional growth and leadership and analyze the value of co-teaching as an inclusion model of instructional delivery. The discussion represents your mastery of the Course Learning Outcomes 1 & 2.

Before the reauthorization of IDEA in 2004, schools were implementing inclusion, but it was not necessarily the 'norm'; instead, children with a disability were educated in a self-contained classroom within the general school population. Included with the most updated changes was a closer alignment with NCLB (No Child Left Behind) requirement for data-based decisions, more rigorous standards and highly qualified teachers (No Child Left Behind, 2013). Teachers new to the field of education are being taught during their coursework how to implement inclusive, co-teaching practices and are therefore unfamiliar with past teaching practices. On the other hand, teachers who have been practicing for more than 10 years have experiences in both education environments.

While it is clear that co-teaching is not the most popular method of instructional delivery for all teachers, viewpoints have been made clear and with good reasoning for use of this method. To prepare for this discussion, it is recommended you review Co-Teaching in Inclusive Classrooms: The Pros and Cons, where the author concisely lists each point of view and teaching suggestions related thereto. You will see that co-teaching has many benefits from reviewing that resource in conjunction with your reading of the opening the "Voices from the Field" provided as an introduction to chapter seven in the Murawski and Spencer (2011) textbook for our course.

Initial Post - Imagine you are in a Professional Learning Community that promotes inclusive education and co-teaching. Imagine further that your principal has asked your group to talk with the faculty about the inclusive initiative and boosting teacher morale. Using the first initial of your last name as a guide, select a concern below about co-teaching. In your response, explain why the teacher may have felt that way and describe how collaborative efforts between the two teachers could have proceeded differently.

• If you last name begins with the letters A - M: You will address the concerns of the special educator in the co-teaching environment when you hear statements such as: "Sure, I've co-taught before. I hated it. All I did was walk around the room and check that my students had their homework or paid attention. I was a glorified aide, at the mercy of whatever the general education teacher wanted me to do" (Murawski & Spencer, 2011, p. 93).

Week 3 - Discussion 2

This discussion is your opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the objectives; analyze the value of co-teaching as an inclusion model of instructional delivery; analyze the value of collaborative consultation as an inclusion model of instructional delivery; and analyze the range of placements and services offered to students who have a disability. The discussion represents your mastery of the Course Learning Outcomes 1 & 4.

Hallahan, Kauffman, and Pullen (2012) define collaborative consultation as when "...the special education teacher or psychologist acts as an expert who provides advice to the general education teacher," (p. 37). The key to the success of this model is "collaboration" of the general education teacher's content knowledge and the special educator's curriculum delivery expertise. The special educator's role is to provide strategies to the general educator, outside of class time, on curriculum accommodations, meeting and documenting the IEP goals, and review student progress for those who have an identified disability (Why Co-Teaching and Collaborative Consultation, 2008). The special educator and general educator must acknowledge their individual and team value in providing an equal contribution in the student's education, recognize personal areas of strength and weakness, and share an open line of communication and honesty (Facilitating Collaborative Consultation, 2009). Additional explanations for the purpose and roles involved in the Collaborative Consultation model visit Inclusion in the Secondary Classroom (Collaborative Consultation, n.d.).

Initial Post - Either choose the prompt to explain the difference between the collaborative consultation model and the co-teaching model, or the prompt to weigh the pros and cons of each teaching model.

1. Explain how the collaborative consultation model is different than the co-teaching model of inclusive education including its strengths and weakness in providing equal education to all students within the general education classroom. Be sure to cite at least two outside sources not included in this week's required or recommended reading. Your goal is to remain unbiased while presenting the facts to your peers.
2. Compare and contrast the pros and the cons of collaborative consultation model with the co-teaching model of inclusive education making sure to cite at least two outside sources not included in this week's required or recommended reading. Your goal is to remain unbiased while presenting the facts to your peers.