Synopses & Reviews
Once infrequent undertakings, co-teaching and other forms of sustained collaboration between general education teachers and special educators are now the norm in classrooms across the country as a result of IDEA and NCLB mandates. Though temporarily inconvenient, this reform may prove beneficial: recent research shows that students with disabilities and their classmates all made academic gains in reading and spelling on curriculum-based assessments in co-taught classrooms (Welch 2000).
While the possible benefits of collaboration are many, throwing two (or more) educators together after a brief inservice about communication and expecting a positive, effective, and truly collaborative relationship to result is not realistic. But with shrinking budgets, what more can be done?
Through the integration of practical exercises with relevant research, Sharon F. Cramer guides pre-service and inservice teachers through the collaborative process: from designing and implementing a plan for collaboration to assessing and revising it for optimal effectiveness. General or special education teachers who read and work through these exercises will be able to work effectively with other educators and paraeducators. They will have a skill set allowing them to take ownership of their actions, and help prepare them to be effective collaborators in all circumstances - critical in today's ever-shifting educational terrain.
Synopsis
Find case stories from up-to-date research, reflection activities, structured research and interview activities for developing collaboration skills.