Co-Teaching as Inclusive Practice: Stories From Five Classrooms

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session 9
  In Roundtable Session: Collaborative and Multimodal Strategies for Constructing Inclusive Strategies

Abstract

In this paper we present findings from a project conducted as a part of a nationwide inclusive initiative funded by the Finnish National Board of Education. Our project investigates the potential for co-teaching to enhance inclusion. The findings draw on the classroom practices used by co-teaching teams comprising special education and general education teachers in elementary classrooms. Analysis of the interviews conducted with the teachers found that co-teaching decisions and practices were based strongly on principles of inclusive pedagogy to support all students. The study showed that when special and general education teachers shared the commitment to all students, they created enriched and supportive learning communities where relationships between students and between teachers were enhanced.

Authors

• Anna Maria Rytivaara, University of Tampere

• Catriona de Bruin, Monash University

• Jonna Pulkkinen, University of Jyvaskyla